The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has been representing the industry for more than 30 years, since its foundation in 1977. Arguably, 2009 could prove to be the most challenging year ever for Europe’s business aviation community as it deals with pressures resulting from a severe economic downturn and a new wave of regulatory challenges. Business aviation flying activity has undoubtedly dropped in recent months, with Eurocontrol departures, arrivals and overflight figures showing a reduction of as much as 25 percent for February 2009 compared with the same month in 2008. Spain, the UK, Belgium, Germany and France have seen the steepest decline.
Brian Humphries has been at the heart of EBAA life for more than a decade, initially as managing director of member flight department Shell Aircraft, and subsequently as chief executive and president of the association. Ahead of this week’s EBACE show in Geneva, he spoke to editor Charles Alcock about the situation that European business aviation now finds itself in and what EBAA is doing to lighten the load.
