Business flights from Farnborough Airport, generate $2.45bn (£1.9bn) of gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy every year, according to the CBI researchers. Up to 80% of the flights from the airport supporting UK business and inward investment either directly or indirectly. It characterised flights from the airport as having a high economic impact and being “time-sensitive in nature and essential in purpose”.

Commenting on the research Louise Hellem, chief economist, CBI Economics said: “It is striking the impact that the business aviation sector has on the UK economy, in particular the economic opportunity it creates and the importance of the sector in driving UK competitiveness and growth.” 

Simon Geere, CEO, Farnborough Airport thought the research validated the airport’s long-standing contribution to both the national and local economies. “These latest findings from CBI Economics support what we have been saying for some time, that the role of business aviation in driving inward investment and creating economic opportunity within the UK is both significant and demonstrable,” he said.

It’s not just the national economy, which benefits from the business airport. Local employment opportunities generated by the facility, about 50 miles south west of London, were said to total the equivalent of 23,000 full-time employee (FTE) jobs. Geere also makes a claim for the airport’s environmental sustainability. “With Farnborough Airport serving smaller-lighter aircraft, our environmental footprint is a fraction of that of a traditional commercial passenger airport, yet our economic output relative to our size is completely unsurpassed,” he said. 

These will prove handy arguments for the airfield, following its planning application last year to Rushmoor Borough Council to increase annual flights from 50,000 to 70,000. Growth, which it argues, will further benefit both the national and local environment – despite some local opposition to the expansion.

Meanwhile, back at the airshow, this year’s numbers showed significant growth compared with the previous event in 2022. The show last month attracted 33% more visitors (numbering over 100,000) and recorded a 57% increase on delegation attendance and more than $105.8bn in commercial deals announced during the five days. Events in Geneva (EBACE 2024) and Las Vegas (NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition – NBAA-BACE) must generate similar benefits. 

Sadly, sales of gold braid are not recorded at any of these events. 

Farnborough features military gold braid at its airshow and a golden contribution from business aviation year round. (Image courtesy of Wyedean).

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The study revealed about 80% of flights from Farnborough Airport were related either directly or indirectly to supporting UK business and inward investment. Flights  from the airport are mainly of “high economic impact, time-sensitive in nature and essential in purpose” it concluded. The economic value created by the airport was also said to generate the equivalent of 23,000 full-time employee (FTE) jobs.

The research evidences the value of business aviation to the UK economy and in particular the role of Farnborough Airport in supporting growth and investment, said Louise Hellem, chief economist, CBI Economics. “It is striking the impact that the business aviation sector has on the UK economy, in particular the economic opportunity it creates and the importance of the sector in driving UK competitiveness and growth,” she said.

Simon Geere, CEO, Farnborough Airport added: “These latest findings from CBI Economics support what we have been saying for some time, that the role of business aviation in driving inward investment and creating economic opportunity within the UK is both significant and demonstrable.”

The airport has a critical role to play in supporting economic growth – both at a local level and also across the wider UK, he said. “With Farnborough Airport serving smaller-lighter aircraft, our environmental footprint is a fraction of that of a traditional commercial passenger airport, yet our economic output relative to our size is completely unsurpassed.” 

The research also quantifies the value to the UK of the proposed increase in flights at Farnborough Airport from 50,000 to 70,000 per year, with an additional £1.4bn of GVA being generated within the UK economy every year. More flights would also create an extra 17,900 FTE jobs, claimed the researchers.

The latest research follows an economic assessment last year undertaken by York Aviation, which was submitted last year to Rushmoor Borough Council as part of the airport’s planning application to increase its annual flights from 50,000 to 70,000. This claimed the localised economic impact of Farnborough Airport supported 2,600 jobs and injected £170m of GVA into the local economy each year. This contributed, it was said, to making Rushmoor one of the fastest growing Local Authorities in the UK, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The CBI Economics report is entitled ‘Getting Business Going – The economic benefits to UK plc of business aviation at Farnborough Airport’.

Farnborough Airport was said to create the equivalent of 23,000 full-time employee jobs.

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* Flexjet adding three Praetor 600s doubling European fleet

* Flights up 180% for first four months

* Adding G650 in July – one other before December

* Moving European operations to Farnborough

Flexjet press release

LONDON, May 19th, 2022 – Premium private jet provider Flexjet is set to almost double its European fleet in the coming months, following a 180% annual uplift in flight activity in the region in the first four months of 2022.

Continuing to reinforce its partnership with Embraer Executive Jets, Flexjet is adding three more super-midsize Praetor 600s to its European fleet before the end of May.

It is also set to operate the Gulfstream G650 in Europe from July, mirroring the success of its U.S. G650 programme, with two of the ultra-long-range jets based in Europe by the end of the year.

Flexjet has made significant investments in its European crew and infrastructure over the past six months to prepare for the fleet increase, opening a new state-of-the-art Tactical Control Centre and office space at Farnborough Airport in April to form the operational heart of its European operation.

This replaces its previous UK operations facility in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and adds to its second European Operational Centre in Malta and sales centre in London’s Mayfair.

The company has also undertaken a focused hiring campaign for pilots, successfully adding 33 more to its European crew, since the start of November 2021.

These announcements come ahead of the European business aviation industry’s premier event, EBACE, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 to 25 May 2022.

Flexjet European Managing Director, Marine Eugène, said: “We are delighted to confirm these significant investments, which are fuelling our continued expansion in Europe.

“Demand for our services continues to be exceptionally strong, with our fleet already seeing a +180% annual uplift in activity so far this year.

“New programme sales and forward bookings are also very robust, so we are well-prepared for a busy summer and second half of the year.

“The opening of our new facility at Farnborough Airport, which includes our state-of-the-art Tactical Control Centre, represents a very significant investment in infrastructure and perfectly places our team on the site of one of Europe’s most impressive business aviation airports, as we continue our ambitious plans to build Flexjet in Europe over the coming years.

With Farnborough being such a key London gateway, we are also excited by the potential to broaden our offering here, including providing seamless central London connections via our group-operated helicopter fleet.”

The three new Praetor 600s are part of a global $1.4 billion [£1.1 billion] order Flexjet placed with Embraer in 2019, when Flexjet was announced as the Praetor fleet launch customer. With a flight range of 7,441km, the high-performing jet is the only super-midsize aircraft capable of transatlantic flight.

Additionally, Flexjet has worked closely with the Embraer Services & Support aftermarket team this year to retrofit Ka-band Wi-Fi on its Legacy 500s, making it the only large fleet operator in Europe to offer the ultra-fast Wi-Fi connectivity on all its aircraft.

Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, said: “Flexjet is one of our most important global customers and we are delighted that our technologically advanced Praetor 600 is proving key to their European market success.

“This is a long standing, mutually rewarding, evolving partnership for us, and we look forward to finding new ways to support Flexjet’s growth and continue to offer their customers the ultimate experience in business aviation.”

Marine Eugène added: “Our strong partnership with Embraer remains pivotal to the next phase of our expansion. The Praetor 600 is a fantastic aircraft, offering exceptional performance and unsurpassed comfort in its category.

“Our premium fleet offering, together with our Flexjet Red Label service experience, gives us a highly competitive position in the European shared ownership market.”

Farnborough press release

May 2022…// Farnborough Airport’s mission to become a global showcase for airport sustainability and driver of regional economic growth continues to gather pace as it welcomes premium fleet operator Flexjet in setting up its European Tactical Control Centre at Europe’s leading business aviation airport. As well as offering an outstanding customer experience, Flexjet has sustainability high on its priorities and includes a complete emissions offset (300% CO2e) for both carbon and non-carbon pollution, at no extra cost to the passenger, thus contributing to Farnborough Airport’s own commitment to sustainability and the UK Government’s targets for net zero carbon emissions.

Flexjet has opened the Tactical Control Centre – the operational heart of its European business – and office space for its operations and other support teams within Farnborough Airport’s Meadow Gate building, in a move from its previous base in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. The relocation contributes to Farnborough Airport’s impressive number of 50 companies based on site and the airport’s longstanding history of driving economic growth and local employment in the region. With 80% of staff living within a 10-mile radius of Farnborough Airport, the airport is a major regional employer. During the COVID pandemic the airport remained fully operational and instead of making redundancies took the opportunity to hire into new positions.

Farnborough Airport’s CEO Simon Geere, commented, “We’re thrilled to welcome Flexjet to Farnborough Airport. The operator’s exemplary focus on sustainability brings additional value to our airport, not to mention a boost to local employment and fiscal growth in the region. After becoming the first business airport to be awarded carbon neutral status in 2018 and making continued improvements in our environmental performance, this partnership further establishes our position as one of the most modern, well-connected, and sustainably minded airports of its kind.”

Flexjet European Managing Director, Marine Eugène, added,“Our move to Farnborough Airport represents an important milestone in our European expansion and generates a multitude of synergies and benefits for our team and our owners alike. Flexjet and Farnborough Airport have a shared ethos for excellence in both operations and service, so we are delighted to be forging this closer partnership.”

Farnborough Airport became the first business airport to be awarded carbon neutral status in 2018 and made Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) available to its customers in 2021. This year Farnborough Airport has introduced Electric Ground Power Units and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which reduces net greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%. Furthermore, this summer, Farnborough Airport will embark on a £55m investment programme to significantly expand its facilities and operational infrastructure by developing a new 175,000 sq ft state-of-the-art hangar facility, branded as Domus III. With Domus III, the airport will achieve some of the very highest environmental standards and the building itself will be rated by BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for infrastructure and buildings.

 Farnborough Airport was the UK’s first airfield in aviation history and home to the country’s first powered flight in 1908. Over the past decade, the airport has continued to be a leader in aviation, hosting the biennial Farnborough International Airshow and pioneering sustainability across the industry.

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