EBACE 2009 was a success in any terms, but given the current financial climate, the business aviation industry had much to be cheerful about. The third biggest show in the event’s history saw 10,000 attendees turn up and 65 aircraft fly into the static display. This was good news for a sector hit by job cuts of some 20,000 plus over the last six months and predictions of a 30 percent drop in output from last year’s bullish projections. The manufacturers and industry associations put up a feisty defense. Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that business aviation contributed 19.7 billion ($26.9 billion) to the European economy in 2007.
The study addressed both output and the contribution of the supply chain, as well as wages input to the economy. The 2007 contribution was 0.2 percent of the combined GDP of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland: 28 percent of which was direct impact, 24 percent indirect and 48 percent induced.The study also indicated that business aviation generates 167,000 jobs in Europe. EBAA president and chief executive Brian Humphries said that this year’s event was better than expected given the current state of the market. Women in Corporate Aviation had a presence at the Swan Heights flight attendants’ training booth. WCA ambassador Karin Muller of Sterling Courier said: “WCA is a great networking group and has helped me win business as well as learn more about the business aviation industry. EBACE is always a very worthwhile show for us.”
