Business aviation trade groups are calling on European policymakers and regulators to adopt a multi-leg action plan to safeguard the business aviation sector as the industry deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an open letter, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and other associations first recommend the relaxation of travel restrictions for essential flights, such as repatriation and medical services flights and flights delivering aircraft, engines and spare parts. 

They also recommend an extension of pilot and staff licenses and airworthiness review certificates and that the supply chain should be eligible for direct support from EU funds, such as the EU Coronavirus Response Investment initiative. The process should be simple and streamlined, they said. 

Business aviation companies also “urgently need liquidity” and guarantees or credit facilities to preserve jobs. The letter also urges lawmakers to suspend all national, regional and local taxes and fees that apply to business aviation companies for six months or until the industry is back to a sound operational or financial situation. 

The letter also recommends flexibility in maintenance, such as interval extensions, certifications, airworthiness review certificates and fast track approvals of staff. 

The letter, addressed to policymakers and regulators in the EU Institutions, Member States, Switzerland and the UK, underscores the work that business aviation operators undertake in medical and emergency flights and the transport of health workers, cargo and medical supplies.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and GAMA urge lawmakers to implement the measures as soon as possible so business aviation can resume normal activities once the crisis is over. Financial losses will be significant.

In a survey of business aviation CEOs, the most pressing issues are staff retention costs, fixed location cost and taxes, they said. 

More than 374,000 people work in the European business aviation sector and face a crisis of “unprecedented magnitude and uncertain futures,” EASA and GAMA said.

In the last week of March, business aviation traffic across Europe fell 72% compared to a year ago. 

“The measures detailed in our letter today aim at the same objective; helping to safeguard as many companies as possible in our sector,” said Athar Husain Khan, EBAA secretary-general. “Business aviation has a vital role to play in the fight against COVID-19 and the post-crisis European recovery.”