Executive Traveller Issue | Page 12

12 A Five Star Welcome We look forward to welcoming you Our five-star treatment doesn’t only stop at the newly refurbished La Valette Lounge. With services ranging from Meeting and Greeting, Chauffeur service, Porterage and much more, we offer a complete luxury experience to members and one off clients. Contact us for more information. EXECUTIVE TRAVELLER BUSINESS AVIATION 13 The future of business jet production and the business aviation industry An analysis by Andrea Trapani. A growth of between 4 and 5 percent is projected for the next 10 years in the business aviation industry. The demand is always for bigger, wider, large-cabin business jets, hence, the overall value predicted for the sales of business aircraft is definitely on the increase. According to Honeywell, a key player in product innovation related to the aviation and aerospace industry, the total number of new business jets delivered throughout 2013 will be somewhere between 600 and 625, which is down on the 672 business jets that were delivered in 2012. However, Honeywell attributes this decline to programme delays rather than falling demand. As with 2014 Malta International Airport plc., Luqa LQA 4000, Malta Tel: (+356) 2369 6292 / 6016 Freephone: 8007 6666 Fax: (+356) 2124 3042 Email: [email protected] www.lavaletteclub.com projections, the company predicts a better picture for the industry and deliveries are anticipated to be up modestly, reflecting recovery in supply side constraints and some gains linked to the projected pace of global economic recovery. Aircraft operators plan to replace around 28 per cent of their fleets with new business jets in the next five years and large cabin business jets are expected to make up 75 to 80 per cent of all new business jet purchases in the short term, the majority of sales accounting to more than 50% being made in North America. Bombardier’s Global Express was once again the most utilised business aircraft to date during 2013 and one can also notice a significant increase in flight activity for the Phenom 300, the King Air 350 and also for the Citation CJ4 aircraft. The business aviation industry in general has registered rough times in the recent past especially with regards to the European market and with special reference to small - and medium sized jets. A decline of 3.5 per cent was registered in overall business jet charter, however, the trend is that larger jets are becoming more and more popular with business jet travellers which is considered as positive for the international business aviation industry. The Global 6000