The Top 10 Property Hotspots Driving Private Jet Recovery
On 12th – 15th March 2013, key players in the global property market gathered in Cannes for MIPIM, the world’s biggest conference for the real estate industry. Some delegates took a private jet to get there.
But the real link between property and private jets is happening throughout the year.
Private aviation growth is now increasingly fuelled by the property sector. The number of trips to key real estate property hotspots on private jets has soared over the past year, reflecting a strong recovery at least in the travel budgets of high flying businessmen.
An indication of the relative perceived safe haven of investing in bricks and mortar, in the uncertain climate of the Eurozone.
A significant and growing number of our clients have a link to the property industry, whether as a private investor; commercial real estate; or a second-home owner regularly travelling to their property. They choose private aviation because it offers:
Proximity – Getting closer to the location, private jets use ten times more airports than scheduled airlines in Europe (3000 versus 300).
Flexibility – property investors can make a site visit quickly, returning the same day; keep the aircraft waiting if they need to stay longer; or schedule several site visits across Europe in the same day.
Time saving – average return flight in Europe saves 5 hours of wasted travelling time.
For second home owners travelling to their holiday property, private aviation also offers the appeal of being able to travel as a family group (price is per aircraft, not per head) – including their pets who can travel in the cabin. And the ability to travel directly year-round, not at the mercy of seasonal airline schedules.
A recent report by PwC and Urban Land Institute, Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2013, revealed the Top 10 property hotspots in Europe for the year ahead.
Mapped against Europe’s busiest private jet destinations, the link is clear: Airports serving all 10 hotspots ranked in the top 1.5% of Europe’s 3,000 private jet airports in 2012 – in terms of their volumes of private jet movements.
Here are the 10 property hotspots identified by the report, mapped against their popularity in Europe’s private jet hotlist*:
1. PARIS
Why it’s a property hotspot: Global political and business hub; international tourism appeal as a retail centre
Airport: Paris Le Bourget, Europe’s busiest private jet airport, dedicated to private aviation
Private aviation flights in 2012: 48,600
Position: 1st out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £4,000 on a Citation Mustang
2. LONDON
Why it’s a property hotspot: London is seen as ultimate safe haven for international property investors
Airport: London Luton is open 24hrs, and the capital’s most popular for private jets
Private aviation flights in 2012: 24,524
Position: 4th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from Moscow: £26,000 on a Hawker 800
3. ZURICH
Why it’s a property hotspot: Swiss franc widely perceived as a safe currency; business and retail appeal
Airport: Zurich
Private aviation flights in 2012: 22,070
Position: 5th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £6,000 on a Citation Mustang
4. MOSCOW
Why it’s a property hotspot: Continued economic growth; hotspot for commercial real estate investors; demand for residential property in Moscow; billionaire capital of the world
Airport: Vnukovo is favoured for its dedicated private aviation efficiency, speed and exclusivity
Private aviation flights in 2012: 21,928
Position: 6th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £26,000 on a Hawker 800
5. MUNICH
Why it’s a property hotspot: An expanding biotech industry; constrained property supply; combined with rapidly increasing tourism
Airport: Munich
Private aviation flights in 2012: 13,820
Position: 11th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £6,000 on a Citation Mustang
6. BERLIN
Why it’s a property hotspot: Low to moderate transaction costs; Europe’s ‘Silicon Allee’ with 15,000+ tech companies; key cultural centre
Airport: Berlin Schonefeld
Private aviation flights in 2012: 8928
Position: 17th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £6,000 on a Citation Mustang
7. ISTANBUL
Why it’s a property hotspot: Future investment; economic growth; young demographic; eased restrictions on foreign ownership
Airport: Istanbul Ataturk airport
Private aviation flights in 2012: 8,870
Position: 18th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £21,000 on a Citation XL
8. HAMBURG
Why it’s a property hotspot: Germany’s 2nd largest city: considered a safe haven; global and domestic occupiers; office yields at lowest since 2002
Airport: Hamburg
Private aviation flights in 2012: 8,020
Position: 25th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £5,000 on a Citation Mustang
9. WARSAW
Why it’s a property hotspot: Strong, post-transition economy; economic growth
Airport: Warsaw Chopin
Private aviation flights in 2012: 6,758
Position: 36th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £11,500 on a Citation CJ2
10. STOCKHOLM
Why it’s a property hotspot: Population growth and migrant appeal; popular base for global brand headquarters; lack of restriction on foreign ownership
Airport: Stockholm Bromma
Private aviation flights in 2012: 6,220
Position: 44th busiest out of 3,000 European airports
Average return flight cost from London: £11,500 on a Citation CJ2
For advice on private jet charter flights to any property hotspot, contact us or call our 24-hour Operations team on +44 (0) 1747 642 777
*Sources: Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2013, by PwC and Urban Land Institute; WingX Advance/ EUROCONTROL data
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