London Oxford Airport said, according to data from WINGX and Eurocontrol, it finished 2016 as the sixth-busiest London airport for business and general aviation, and it entered the new year as the 16th-busiest in Europe. A trend the airport said it noticed was the use of business jets weighing more than 40 tons at its facilities. This includes the Bombardier Global and Gulfstream G650.
The airport also said its Oxfordjet FBO has seen an increase of 37% in larger-sized jets for the year to date, and a 46% increase over the last two years. The airport saw an increase in jet movements of 6.4% in 2016. A total of 5,629 business turboprop and jet (excluding piston-engine twin aircraft used as air taxis) movements were seen last year. The airport said it saw a 4% decrease in recreational general aviation movements. Helicopter movements were up 25% last year at 6,000. Almost 1,000 additional helicopter movements were from Airbus Helicopters, which has its U.K. base at the airport.
London Oxford Airport said it is anticipating new entrants, due in part to EASA’s rule allowing single-engine turboprops in commercial operations IFR. It is already receiving demand for more hangar space and is building a new 15,250-square-foot single standalone bay, along with officers outside the hangar and 30 parking spaces.
“The new building, both prominent and visible from the A44 (which sees 11 million vehicles passing by each year), is compatible with Bombardier Global 7000-sized aircraft, but could typically handle four Challenger-sized aircraft,” said James Dillon-Godfray, London Oxford Airport’s head of business development.