The new EASA Ground Handling Mandate (EU Regulation 20/2025), adopted on March 7, 2025, represents a fundamental shift in ground handling regulation at EU airports, with full applicability by March 2028. This mandate introduces stricter requirements for ground handling service providers, including compliance declarations, Safety Management Systems (SMS), detailed manuals, and continuous personnel competence. Business aviation operators, in particular, must ensure their ground service partners are compliant and integrated into their safety oversight, especially for ad-hoc operations. While demanding, this new framework aims to enhance safety, provide clarity, and streamline partnerships across the sector.

The Spanish Business Aviation Association (SPBAA) has renewed its Board of Directors, appointing Olivier Poncet as President, to bolster its commitment to represent and grow the national business aviation sector. With around thirty member organizations, SPBAA aims to be the unified voice for the industry in Spain, prioritizing expanded membership and serving as a key interlocutor for aviation authorities to address sector challenges and contribute expertise.

We operate at the forefront of global mobility, connecting businesses, facilitating trade, and providing essential services that no other mode of transport can match. Yet, our journey is far from smooth. Anyone with a minimum knowledge of the sector is aware of the complex headwinds we face: from persistent public perception challenges and fragmented regulations to the existential call for Net Zero and the geopolitical shifts impacting our continent.

Using EUROCONTROL data, we have compiled the European Business aviation traffic figures for May 2025.

Using EUROCONTROL data, we have compiled the European Business aviation traffic figures for April 2025.

Using EUROCONTROL data, we have compiled the European Business aviation traffic figures for March 2025.

As other regions intensify competition for investment and influence, the European Union must leverage every strategic asset at its disposal. Business aviation – often misunderstood as a luxury – is in fact a crucial tool for restoring and bolstering Europe’s competitiveness. It enables rapid access to international markets, facilitates foreign investments, and strengthens Europe’s strategic economic positioning on the world stage. In the context of EU policy debates, recognising the value of business aviation is more important than ever.

Launching in June, the programme empowers ambassadors to engage with EU policymakers and industry leaders. A Brussels workshop will offer hands-on advocacy training and strategic networking opportunities. Ambassadors play a vital role in advancing business aviation at both national and European levels.