Page 7 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

NEWS

GETTING BACK

TO BUSINESS

so that they can pool resources and travel third with over two million, Brazil is second
in one car.” he said. highest with over three million and the USA

eneral Aviation is never going As far as the sales market is concerned, Kig- has over five million.

Gto be the same again. We are gen said, now is the time to purchase as own- The webinar looked at how general avia-

going to have to invent new ways of doing ers are either off-loading or looking to buy. tion is being affected by Covid-19 and what

business. Things have changed, and they He said the South African market is en- needs to be done to survive. The question

are going to keep on changing. tirely different from that of Nigeria – where was posed “How will GA survive when there
These are some of the comments made more expensive jets are being purchased. has always been such a strong parallel link

by Gavin Kiggen, vice president Africa Kiggen was commenting after a recent between commercial and GA indicators?”

ExecuJet – an industry professional with AFBAA webinar that looked at the state of The current situation shows that OEMs are

many years’ experience – in light of the the general aviation industry in the world delivering less, and that there are huge lay-

Covid-19 pandemic and the effects it has and South Africa in light of the Covid-19 offs and retrenchments among Bombardier,

had on this sector of the aviation industry. pandemic. Recent statistics from John Hop- Textron and Gulfstream. This will affect South

Following the lifting of restrictions in kins University reveal that South Africa is African AMO's, FBO's and sales organisations.

South Africa to level two – allowing for the fifth highest in the world with 559, 859 Consider that during the quarter that end-
leisure travel between provinces - Kiggen cases, fourth is Russia with 890 799, India is ed March 31, piston airplane deliveries had
said this move has not been good for the declined 11.7 percent, with 219 airframes;
charter industry as airline fares are rock turboprop airplane deliveries dropped a

bottom and it is just not cost-effective to whopping 41.8 percent, with 71 airframes;

put even a Pilatus PC-12 in the air. and business jet deliveries declined 19.1
As far as the December season goes, he percent, with 114 airframes when compared

said, he is worried about how the indus- to the same time period in 2019.

try will fare as South Africa sits with the On the rotorcraft side, turbine helicopter

fifth-highest number of Covid-19 cases in deliveries declined 18.3 percent with 85

the world. airframes, while piston helicopter deliver-
“We are going to have to give our clients ies declined 43.9 percent sending just 37
a reason to fly with us. We are going to machines out the door. Of the 404 total

have to operate on a different level and in delivers in the first quarter, the major-

ity–294–went to North America, 98 to
a more intelligent way. For instance, we Europe and nine to South America.

will start to bring back some staff to our

national office as clients want to interact Industry experts and stakeholders are

with people, not computers. We will not awaiting second quarter delivery numbers
bring back a full complement, only half. that should appear later in the year that will

Teams will work in shifts, and we will also reflect a better picture of the impact the
select those that come from the same area Covid-19 virus has had on the industry. Q
World Airnews | September 2020
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