Business jet flights in and out of Russia have dropped by around 30 percent this year, according to members of the country’s business aviation community speaking to AIN on condition of anonymity. Over the same period, the sources reported a slight increase in the volume of business aviation traffic within Russia.
The downward trend in international flights was confirmed at a press conference held in Moscow on the eve of this week’s JetExpo show by Austrian charter company MJet, which operates a fleet of large business jets that includes an Airbus ACJ319 being displayed at the event. “Nearly the whole of our fleet flies out of Russia,” said MJet operations manager Darko Cvijetinovic.
While, confirming the reports of an overall decline in bizav traffic in and out of Russia, Cvijetinovic insisted that the situation is more positive at the top end of the private charter market. “What I see is that there is a drop in [flights by] small jets, light jets and medium jets. But I do not see it with the ACJ. Actually, the ACJ charter market is very stable, and even a bit growing.”
MJet operates 14 aircraft, also including a mix of Gulfstream G450s and G550s, as well as some Bombardier Global 5000s and 6000s. It has operated the ACJ319 for the past three years, and the Austrian-registered aircraft can seat up to 15 passengers, with 12 seats that can extend to make beds. Many of its flights for Russian customers are to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and U.S.
