U.S. Bizav Flying Up in July, but Part 91 Still a Drag

According to Argus TrakPak data released yesterday, business aircraft flying last month reached its highest level in at least the past five Julys, but the 1.4 percent year-over-year increase was driven by charter and fractional activity. Notably, there was a 9 percent drop in overall activity during the July 4th holiday week, it said. Flight activity missed the company’s forecast for 4.3 percent growth in July, but Argus predicts a 3.3 percent rise this month.

Last month's results were propelled by a 6.7 percent year-over-year increase in Part 135 activity. This was followed by a 1.3 percent rise in fractional flying, while Part 91 activity decreased 2.1 percent.

Large-cabin jets and turboprops posted the largest year-over-year gains, rising 4.1 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, midsize jet flying rose 1.7 percent from last July and light jets declined 1.4 percent.

Double-digit gains in individual sectors were sparse last month, and all were in the charter category. Part 135 midsize and large-cabin jet flying climbed 11 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively, from a year ago. All Part 91 individual categories were in the red, with private light jet flying posting the largest loss, of 3.8 percent.

Argus’s TraqPak data provides “flight-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.”