Business aircraft flight activity rose 2.3% YOY last month, thanks in part to the North American market eking out a 0.5% increase as charter turned positive.
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Business aircraft flight activity rose 2.3% year over year (YOY) last month, thanks in part to the North American market eking out a 0.5% increase—versus a forecasted 2.7% decline—after charter activity turned positive, according to the latest TraqPak data from Argus International. The European market finished down 4.3% for the month, while the rest of the world saw a 20.8% YOY rise in aircraft utilization. Argus is predicting a 1.1% YOY decrease in North American business aircraft flying this month and a 1.8% increase in Europe.
By operational category, fractional flying in North America soared by 8.4% from a year ago, while Part 135 charter saw a marginal 0.2% gain and Part 91 declined by 2.3%, with gains in smaller aircraft and declines in larger aircraft. Aircraft categories were mostly positive in the region last month, but large-cabin jet flying fell 8.4% from a year ago. Light jets climbed by 2.5% from October 2023, followed by midsize jets and turboprops with 2% and 1.8% increases, respectively.
In Europe, only midsize jets saw a rise in activity last month, up a mere 0.4% from a year ago. Turboprop flying suffered the most erosion in the region, falling 11.3% YOY, while light and large-cabin jets were down 2% and 4.1%, respectively.
Activity in South America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa was boosted by 24% to 29% YOY gains in turboprop, light jet, and midsize jet flight activity, offset by a 39.6% decrease in large-cabin jet flying.
“October flight activity definitely gave us a surprise. We expected North America to record right around 300,000 flights but it exceeded our expectations and managed to produce a year-over-year gain in activity,” said Argus v-p of software Travis Kuhn. “The two big stories in the activity report are the positive month for Part 135 activity, and, on the other side, the declines in Part 91 and Part 135 large-cabin activity.”
Surprise N. America Gain Boosts Bizav Flying in October
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Business aircraft flight activity rose 2.3% year over year (YOY) last month, thanks in part to the North American market eking out a 0.5% increase—versus a forecasted 2.7% decline—after charter activity turned positive, according to the latest TraqPak data from Argus International. The European market finished down 4.3% for the month, while the rest of the world saw a 20.8% YOY rise in aircraft utilization. Argus is predicting a 1.1% YOY decrease in North American business aircraft flying this month and a 1.8% increase in Europe.
Fractional flying in North America soared by 8.4% from a year ago, while Part 135 charter saw a marginal 0.2% gain and Part 91 declined by 2.3%, with gains in smaller aircraft and declines in larger aircraft. Large-cabin jet flying fell 8.4% from a year ago. Light jets climbed by 2.5% from October 2023, followed by midsize jets and turboprops with 2% and 1.8% increases, respectively.
In Europe, only midsize jets saw a rise in activity last month, up a mere 0.4% from a year ago. Turboprop flying suffered the most erosion in the region, falling 11.3% YOY, while light and large-cabin jets were down 2% and 4.1%, respectively.
Activity in South America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa was boosted by 24% to 29% YOY gains in turboprop, light jet, and midsize jet flight activity, offset by a 39.6% decrease in large-cabin jet flying.