The first six months of the year proved disheartening for those who hoped for an uptick in aircraft deliveries. According to first-half numbers provided by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), total industry billings were down 22.3 percent compared with the first half of last year, to $7.3 billion, from $9.4 billion, while total shipments were off 15.5 percent in that span. Overall, the numbers represent the 11th consecutive quarter the industry has faced without posting a year-over-year increase. “Emerging markets still hold promise for near-term sales activity and a jumpstart to the recovery,” GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce told AIN. “While we expect international markets to be at the forefront of this recovery, we must recognize that reviving the North American and European markets are necessary for a full recovery and long-term growth.
In his search for a target for the industry’s woes, Bunce focused his ire squarely on the White House. “These negative shipment numbers demonstrate precisely how ill-timed and potentially destructive the Obama Administration’s rhetoric and policies toward corporate jets are for general aviation,” he said. The 261 business jets handed over in the first half of the year represent the lowest first-half total since the same period in 2004, when manufacturers delivered 238 airplanes.
