Skift Take
Although the hyper-rich are still arriving at the games by jet, the typical London business air traffic has slowed because of increased regulations and a plan by the authorities to limit access to runways and helipads.
This time last year Nick Candy’s Challenger 605 business jet was kept busy flying the U.K. real estate magnate to destinations across Europe.
In the summer of 2012 the Bombardier Inc. aircraft has made fewer trips as Candy takes time out in London to watch the Olympics. Other corporate jets are seeing less action as the games deter overseas business people from visiting Britain.
Airports including Oxford and Farnborough report fewer business flights, and London Heathrow, Europe’s top hub, has banned private planes following the closure of airspace above the capital for the duration of the games. While Olympic events such as the opening ceremony and men’s 100 meters final have led to traffic surges as VIP and celebrity visitors including Madonna and Brad Pitt fly in, that’s brought complications as aprons become crowded and turnaround times come under pressure.
“To some extent the aviation community has shot itself in the foot by implying that it was going to be so challenging and constrained,” said James Dillon-Godfray, commercial director at Oxford airport and Battersea heliport. “The volumes of business aircraft and executive aircraft that were predicted two or three years ago are just not happening.”
‘Armed Interception’
Britain’s Civil Aviation authority anticipated a maximum 5,000 extra private aviation movements in southeast England during the two weeks of the games, up 33 percent on 2011. The real increase may be about 20 percent, Dillon-Godfray estimates.
Flights above London are restricted to the police, armed forces, emergency services
