AIN Staff

The following is the full text of a January 12 letter written by EBAA president Brian Humphries to explain the case for business aviation to European newspaper readers:
“Here’s a contentious statement: with the economy the way it is and with key markets as flat as they are, now is the perfect time to own or use a business aircraft. Full disclosure–I am a leading proponent in Europe for the use of corporate aircraft as a business tool, having spent 11 years as the CEO of a major multinational corporation’s global flight operations company, whose fleet of owned and chartered business jets and helicopters are seen as a key and essential business tool for the success of the company’s worldwide operations. Furthermore I have held leadership roles (as chairman, CEO and today as president) of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the community’s leading advocate of business aviation in the region. 
Why do I choose now to say this? It certainly has not gone unnoticed that several major corporations, particularly in the U.S., are under fire for operating a company aircraft. The general consensus among the less informed it seems is that these aircraft are merely perks for overpaid, undeserving CEOs. Little is ever printed about the fact that most business aircraft–and I say most because, like any other business tool, they are not ALWAYS used wisely–are undeniably the best and often only way for executives to maximize their productivity; attend multiple meetings in multiple destinations within the course of one or two days, to get contracts signed and develop new business. Such destinations are often not adequately served by airlines, and seldom with schedules in line with business needs. 
And why now? Why is it the perfect time for companies actively to pursue the use of business aviation? Because with a faltering economy and diminishing business confidence, now is the time to re-establish the business by getting out and seeking new clients and deals, and servicing the customer base more proactively and efficiently than ever before. 
Experienced business leaders know that a recession can be, ironically enough, a foundation for future growth. Forward thinkers know that this is the time to begin promoting aggressively services and products, to increase profile, to cement reputations and increase market share in a diminishing market. They know that short-sighted competitors will be doing quite the opposite–cutting marketing budgets, depleting the workforce and cutting corners–in a vain attempt to rescue the bottom line. 
So in the face of airline consolidation and declining service levels, including short-notice route cancellations and interrupted schedules, business aviation is increasingly revealed for what it truly is–a significant and affordable tool for growth. 
In fact, business aviation is a significant tool for more general European economic growth as well. The EBAA recently released a report compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealing that the business aviation sector contributed a total of E19.7 billion in annual gross value added to the European economy in 2007, accounting for approximately 0.2 percent of the combined GDP of the European Union (EU), Norway and Switzerland. 
So, given the current economic climate and what is clearly a crisis of confidence on world markets, this is the time for company executives–including marketing teams, sales staff, researchers, engineers, company leadership and any other employee who can help the business–to expand the brand and restore confidence. Use your company-owned aircraft or chartered business aircraft (at increasingly attractive rates nowadays) to re-ignite markets and pilot the business and the European economy out of this recession. Don’t damn them as luxury or leave them in the hangar wasting money; use them now as the essential tool they are to re-establish your business and build the foundations of recovery." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Business Aviation: the Recession Buster 

The following is the full text of a January 12 letter written by EBAA president Brian Humphries to explain the case for business aviation to European newsp

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