Argus: U.S. Bizav Flying Up, but Part 91 Lags

Business aircraft flight activity in North America rose 1.3 percent year-over-year last month, despite this February being one day shorter than last year due to the leap year, according to TraqPak data released yesterday by Argus International. Its outlook for this month is somewhat bullish, forecasting a 3.6 percent climb from a year ago.

By operational category, increases in charter and fractional flying last month offset a 1.2 percent decline in the Part 91 segment. Charter activity logged a 3.7 percent gain, while fractionals were up 5 percent.

Large-cabin jets continue to dominate activity by aircraft category, rising 3.9 percent year-over-year last month. This was followed by a 3 percent increase in midsize jet flying, while light jets and turboprops declined by 0.5 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

Regionally, the U.S. Southeast led with 57,137 departures last month, immediately followed by the Southwest, which reported 31,889 departures, Argus said. Flights during weekdays last month soared by 5.6 percent, while weekend flights rose 2.1 percent.

Part 135 and fractional flights in large-cabin jets saw double-digit gains, soaring 13.1 percent and 17.7 percent, respectively, year-over-year. Charter midsize jets also logged a 10.2 percent increase. Argus TraqPak data provides “flight-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.”