Oxford Airport tops the charts

Figures issued by the Eurocontrol STATFOR database show that Oxford Airport (Kidlington) leads the way in year-to-year growth.

Compared to others, airports within easy reach of London, Oxford has seen an increase on a year-to-date (YTD) expansion at 30% growth with Biggin up 7%, Farnborough at 17%, Luton down -5%, London City down -27%, and Stansted flatlined.

The one exception is Northolt, which is up 44%, but is constrained with military users taking precedence and restricted opening hours.  The airport, on the A40 north of Heathrow, is averaging 13.9 business aviation flights a day vs. 22 every 24hrs for Oxford.  That increased Northolt activity is typically dominated by the larger fleet operators – the Netjets, Flexjets, Vistajets, etc.

Oxford Airport says that September saw its most jets ever in a month surpassing 600+.   

On a regional basis Gloucestershire has picked up at 26% growth YTD and Birmingham is up 23%.  Outside of the London region Bournemouth is still well up at nearly 70% YTD with increased engineering and aircraft hibernation activity.

Other ‘London’ region general aviation and business jet hosting airports are some way behind with Fairoaks at 6.5 BizAv flights a day, Blackbushe 3.3, Cranfield 2.7 (actually up 50% on last year), Southend 2.5, Denham 2.4 and Cambridge at 1.9.  With Blackbushe and Fairoaks the Pilatus PC-12s turboprop considered a BizJet.

www.oxfordairport.co.uk

www.eurocontrol.int/forecasting

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