When we wrote the state of business aviation 2025 eBook our sincere hope was that people within the industry would read it, start a conversation and get everyone thinking.

We are especially grateful to Benjamin Ribouleau from Boutsen Aviation for taking the time to share his valuable perspective on our work. His insights after reading the State of Business Aviation 2025 eBook enrich the conversation and offer an insider’s view of Europe’s current landscape. You can find Benjamin’s thoughts below:

Please note that we have Benjamin’s permission to share his thoughts and we very much appreciate this.

Thanks for your article, it’s a refreshing and thought-provoking read. I really appreciated the way you approached the big-picture challenges of our industry with both honesty and sharpness.

 

As someone based in France and working across the European market, I wanted to share a few thoughts – not as a rebuttal, but maybe as a small counterbalance from ‘this side of the Channel’.

 

Regarding taxation and the ‘punish the rich’ narrative: yes, I get where you’re coming from. It’s frustrating when policies seem more symbolic than efficient. But in Europe, and especially in France, these measures often come from genuine public pressure. Our social model – with state-funded healthcare, education, and public services – is something people here deeply care about. So while some taxes may look politically motivated, they also reflect a collective idea of fairness, even if it sometimes hits our sector harder than we’d like.

 

About Europe being the ‘difficult child’: no argument, it’s a complex place to operate. But that complexity has also shaped a highly compliant, safety-driven and quality-oriented industry. And let’s be honest, EASA is now a global reference for safety. So yes, we make things a bit more bureaucratic at times, but it’s not just for the sake of it.

 

As for the image of business aviation, you’re spot on. In Europe, it’s still perceived too often as a luxury toy instead of a business tool. But I don’t think this is only due to political culture. It’s also up to us, as an industry, to communicate better. To show the real value we bring: access, flexibility, connectivity, beyond just lifestyle and convenience.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts so far… we hope to continue the state of business aviation conversation over the forthcoming weeks, at the Isle of Man Aviation Conference and beyond!

If you haven’t had a chance to read the eBook yet please click here 👉The State of Business Aviation 2025