JSSI estimated price rises of 3% to 5% before Covid but a price jump of 9% to 16% after the pandemic. “Owners come with a budget, and they want a forecast,” said Fabrice Roger, senior vice president, Business Development, EMEA and APAC at JSSI. “They are ready to pay the right price, but they do not want to be fooled.”

As if rising costs and lengthening backlogs were not enough to worry about, the risk of cyber-attack, to both aircraft transactions and operations, was intensifying, warned the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Global losses to wire fraud alone in 2022 totalled $10bn, said Kathryn Sherman, cyber-criminal assistant legal attaché, FBI. Losses over the past five years were estimated at $23bn. “I think about cyber-security every minute of every day. It crosses borders instantaneously and we can’t fight it without partnerships around the world,” she said.

Cyber-crime, via wire fraud, ransomware attacks on essentials such as aircraft logbooks and other means, is becoming ever more sophisticated. But early declaration of the offence to authorities offered some possibility of recouping losses, said Sherman.

Returning to fuel, intensifying production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) while diversifying feedstocks would help to boost its availability and lower costs, said João Martin from Jet Aviation. Part of the problem was lack of capital, according to Nancy Bsales, from 4AIR. “We need to infuse capital into the SAF industry so these facilities can be built,” she said.

Holger Krahmer, new secretary general, European Business Aircraft Association (EBAA) urged business aviation to deliver upbeat messages to governments and policy makers about its contribution to the economic growth and to society. “Be optimistic, be practical and don’t be silent about your aviation business. Don’t hide your business,” said Krahmer, who is on a mission to step up the association’s lobbying and advocacy roles.