WINGX Global Market Tracker:

Bizjet activity rebounds after Easter holidays, stalls in Europe

Global business jet activity rebounded significantly following Easter holidays in the core US market two weeks ago, activity in the latest week, Week 17 (21-27th April) jumped 11% compared to Week 16.

According to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today, the core US market recorded 11% growth compared to Week 17 last year, meanwhile in Europe, whilst activity was 12% ahead of the previous week, it was 4% below Week 17 in 2024.

Month to date (1st-27th April), global bizjet activity is 2% ahead of last year, flight hours 3% ahead of last year. Year-to-date (1st January – 27th April), the global bizjet fleet has flown 3% more flights than comparable last year, recording over 2 million flying hours.

Global business jet flights and rolling 12-month trends.

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Over 90% of US bizjet flights this month have been domestic flights, just 6% to international destinations. International connections from the US are 7% ahead of April 2024, flights to Mexico up 10%, flights to Canada up just 1%. A quarter of flights between the US and Mexico this month have been flown by Aircraft Management programmes, although activity is 8% behind last year.

Private flight departments have been helping drive growth between the US and Mexico this month, flights up 32% compared to last year.

United States bizjet country flows, April 1st - 27th 2025 vs last year.

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North America

Overall, bizjet activity in Week 17 in the US was up 11% compared to Week 17 last year, making it the third largest year-on-year increase this year. Part 135 and 91K activity matched these trends.

Florida, Texas and California all recorded double digit growth compared to last year. Florida recorded a 19% increase in year-on-year activity, the highest so far this year.

All operator types recorded year-on-year gains in departures out of Florida, notably Aircraft Management fleets which recorded a 16% increase in departures compared to the previous week. Across all the operator types, notable rises in departures out of Florida airports for Wheels Up Private Jets and Flexjet.

Across the US, bizjet activity is 2% ahead of last April, with most growth coming from Light, Super Midsize and Heavy jets. Bizliner activity has fallen 16% compared to April last year, declines in Shuttle, Aircraft management and Private flight departments are dragging the Bizliner trend down.

In contrast, Corporate Flight Departments are flying 77% more Bizliner flights compared to last April. Year to date (1st January-27th April), over a quarter of flights have been flown on Light jets, making them the most popular segment, departures 2% more than last year. Flights on Entry Level and Bizliner jets have fallen 9% and 7% respectively compared to last year.

Business Jet departures and flight hours from United States, April 2025.

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Europe

Week 17 (21st-27th April) was the second consecutive week of year-on-year decline in Europe.

Despite the rebound from Easter impacted Week 16, departures in Week 17 were 4% below Week 17 last year. Switzerland and Italy recorded 7% decline in bizjet activity, Germany recording a 27% compared to Week 17 last year, the second highest year-on-year decline this year.

There were significant declines in Branded Charter activity out of Germany in Week 17, Corporate Flight activity also falling significantly. Year to date bizjet activity in Germany has fallen 7% compared to last year, activity this month falling 9% compared to April last year.

In Italy last week, 180 bizjet arrivals recorded into Rome airports in, up from 154 in the previous week and up 36% compared to the same dates last year. Noticeable increases in arrivals from Government operated bizjets, arrivals up over 500% compared to the same dates last year, possibly attendees to Pope Francis' public funeral ceremony at the nearby Vatican City.

Across Europe, bizjet activity has fallen 1% this month, matching the year-to-date trend, with declines in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Netherlands off-setting growth across the UK, Spain and Sweden. Year-to-date busiest market France is 2% ahead of last year, 2nd ranked UK is 1% ahead of last year. Across the aircraft types, the has been a slowdown in Entry Level jet activity, departures down 31% compared to last year, Very Light jet activity is down 11% compared to last year, in contrast Super Midsize and Ultra Long-Range jets are flying 4% and 3% more than last year respectively.

Business jet departures by European airport, April 2025.

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Rest of the World

In Week 17, business jet activity outside of North America and Europe was up 7% compared to Week 17 last year. Most of the gains came from Africa last week, departures up 27% compared to Week 17 in 2024. Elsewhere, activity in the Middle East was up 5%, up 13% in South America.

In contrast, activity in Asia fell 4% compared to Week 17 last year.

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BlueSky Business Aviation News | 1st May 2025 | Issue #794

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