Global business aviation flying in October fell 0.6 percent year-over-year (YOY), with Europe leading the decline, according to newly released TraqPak data from Argus International. The European market finished the month down 7.2 percent from October 2022—in line with Argus’s expectations for the region—while North American activity decreased 1.9 percent versus a forecasted 0.4 percent rise. Business aircraft flying increased by 20 percent YOY in the rest of the world.
"Business aircraft activity remains stubbornly stable,” noted Argus senior v-p Travis Kuhn. “We expected activity to move into positive territory in October, but ultimately saw 309,000 flights in North America, compared to the 316,000 we had forecasted. It was still a very strong month and we expect that November will finally move into positive territory, but we'll monitor that closely."
In North America, fractional flying was the only operational category to trend upward last month, climbing 13.4 percent YOY. Part 135 activity fell 6.0 percent from a year ago, while Part 91 activity slowed by 3.5 percent. By aircraft category in the region, large-cabin jets led with a 2.5 percent YOY increase, followed by midsize jets, up 0.4 percent; light jets, down 2.7 percent; and turboprops, down 5.8 percent. Still, the largest increase in individual segments was recorded in the fractional turboprop market, which rose 17.1 percent YOY.
European flying was down in all aircraft categories last month, with YOY declines for large-cabin jets (14.5 percent), turboprops (9.1 percent), light jets (2.4 percent), and midsize jets (0.6 percent).
Meanwhile, activity in the rest of the world climbed steeply last month, with turboprop flying in South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa up 29.9 percent YOY and business jets in these regions seeing mid-teen percentage point increases, depending on category.
Argus is forecasting a 0.7 percent YOY increase in North American flying this month but expects European activity to fall 1.2 percent.