Flexible access to airports is arguably the most enticing item on the business aviation menu. Without this ingredient, the industry’s secret sauce isn’t as special, and yet that is the dilemma increasingly facing operators in Europe.

Securing proportionate and fair access to slots in increasingly capacity-constrained airports remains a major headache, according to EBAA. Róman Kok, the group’s director of public affairs and communications, told AIN the sector has been treated as “the underdog” for slot access for too long, and lobbying efforts are being ramped up to demand equitable treatment.

The Air Charter Association (ACA) is concerned that rising costs from elevated fuel prices could spur an increase in illegal for-hire flights. During the recent Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany, the industry group had discussions with national business aviation associations to address concerns that some private operators are blurring the lines in order to circumvent commercial operating rules.

Kevin Ducksbury, the industry group’s chairman, told AIN that some so-called “club membership” offerings are being used to disguise what are actually private operations. He said that groups such as the Austrian Business Aviation Association are worried that these may amount to “gray” charter activity that could result in serious legal and safety issues, while placing legitimate commercial operators at a competitive disadvantage.

Dutch startup Electron is fundraising to build a full-scale flying prototype of its all-electric E5 Albatross aircraft. The non-type-conforming aircraft will include recent design revisions and is expected to make its first flight in 2027.

An earlier iteration of the five-passenger aircraft concept, for which work started in 2021, featured a front lifting wing reminiscent of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti. This has now been removed, with Electron believing this added unnecessary complexity for minimal performance enhancement. Twin pusher propellers have also been substituted for wing-mounted tractor propellers, and a high T-tail replaces an earlier cruciform tail.

Aura Aero is expanding its defense-focused activities, with two major milestones expected within the coming months. Speaking at the recent Aero Friedrichshafen show, the French aircraft manufacturer revealed a potential European military contract for its two-seat Integral S trainer later this year. Its Enbata medium altitude long endurance (MALE) drone is also on track to make its first flight by the end of 2026.

Aura Aero CEO and co-founder Jérémy Caussade told a press conference that upcoming EASA certification of the Integral S could unlock a significant military training contract. Although the model is being marketed across the flight training role, including to flying clubs and as a UPRT-capable airframe, he confirmed to AIN that this concerns a defense-specific application.

European Pilatus PC-12 operator HansJet is registering strong demand for its recently-launched fractional ownership offering, according to the company. The initiative represents a move away from a business model purely focused on ad hoc charter.

Speaking to AIN at the recent Aero Friedrichshafen show, the Malta-based company's Cesar Laugier said member numbers are growing faster than expected. Although charter still comprises most of HansJet’s business—with each of its PC-12s flying some 800 hours a year—the company sees this balance starting to shift increasingly towards its membership options.