Argus: North American Ops Surge, Driving Global Gains

Global business aircraft flight activity jumped by 7.2% in September as North America logged its largest monthly gain—outside of the initial Covid boom—since September 2015, according to the latest Argus International TraqPak report. North American operations increased by 7.5% year over year (YOY), and Europe marked its fifth consecutive month on the positive side with a 2.5% increase.

Argus anticipates this momentum to continue this month, but at a more muted pace in North America. The company predicts a 0.7% YOY increase in North America this month, but a 4.4% improvement in Europe.

Outside of the Covid bump, the previous largest YOY gains in North America occurred in February 2016 and December 2019, both of which saw operations increase by 6.9%.

In September, all operational categories trended positive in North America, led once again by fractional operations with a 13.2% increase. Part 135 activity was up 7.3% and Part 91 by 5.4%. All aircraft categories also posted gains, with light jets leading at 8.3%, followed by midsize jets, +8.2%; turboprops, +7%; and large-cabin jets, +5.6%.

Accounting for both cabin size and operations, fractional large jet activity soared in September, up by 20.7%, and fractional small jets closely followed at a 19.3% gain. Only one segment dipped YOY—Part 135 large-cabin jet operations fell 0.4%.

Meanwhile, in Europe, large-cabin jets led the YOY increases in September at 7.3%, followed by midsize jets at 3.5%. However, light-jet and turboprop activity dipped in the month by 1% and 0.6%, respectively.

In the rest of the world, activity was up 11.4% YOY last month, led by light-jet operations, which leapt by 21.9%.

"The activity levels in September far exceeded expectations, which has been the trend lately. We're seeing strong demand essentially across the board,” said Argus senior v-p of software Travis Kuhn. “We do see a small amount of weakness in large cabin Part 135 activity, and the new gains in Part 91 will be a segment to watch, given all of the struggles over the last few years. All in all, this is a great place to be in as we head into what is traditionally the strongest month on the business aviation calendar."