EBAA Says Euro Fleet Renewed

EBAA membership stood at 160 members in 26 countries at the beginning of this month, according to CEO Fernand Francois.

The EBAA members' fleet numbers more than 500 airplanes, 441 of them jets. They include a good selection of heavy metal: four BBJs, three Airbus ACJs, seven Global Expresses and 10 Gulfstream Vs.

"While European fleet numbers have been relatively flat for many years, the fleet has not been stagnant," Francois told Show News. "In fact, the fleet has been renewed. What has disguised this (in numerical terms) is that a lot of companies have sold two or three older aircraft to replace them with one larger and more capable aircraft."

Since 1999 the total fleet has increased from 1,997 turbine aircraft to 2,160. Flight hours have increased as well, Francois noted, with many flight departments flying between 400 and 1,000 hours a year.

"I remember not very long ago when 400 hours per year was a break-even goal," he said.