Argus: North American Bizav Traffic Hiccups in April

Business aviation activity in North America declined last month for the first time since March 2015, falling 0.6 percent year-over-year, according to the latest TraqPak data from business aviation services group Argus International. The firm had forecasted a 2.8-percent increase in flight activity last month and is calling for a 1.2-percent rise this month versus a year ago.

Results by operational category were mixed, with the Part 91 market seeing the only year-over-year increase last month, at 0.3 percent, it said. Part 135 flying decreased 0.5 percent from April 2015, while fractional activity slumped by 4.7 percent.

Flight activity by aircraft categories was largely negative last month, with large-cabin jets recording the only year-over year increase, at 1.4 percent, Argus noted. Light jets and turboprops barely dipped into the red, declining 0.2 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively. Midsize jet flying recorded the largest decrease, sliding 2.1 percent from April 2015.

The largest year-over-year gain for an individual segment was in fractional large-cabin jets, which rose 8.3 percent last month. Fractional turboprops posted the largest decline, slipping 14.2 percent from a year ago.

Argus TraqPak data provides “serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S.”