25 July 2024
Global
In Week 29 (15th – 21st July), there were 76,434 business jet sectors flown, 35% from managed and private flight departments, these two operator types respectively trending up by 2% and down by 10% compared to last year. 15% of worldwide flights were operated by branded charter fleets, these sectors trending down by 6% but up 12% compared to 5 years ago. Fractional operations are trending up by 18% YOY this month a new record high. In the broader context of fixed wing flight activity, there were 642,690 scheduled sectors flown globally in week 29, up 2.1% compared to last year, up 8% versus 2019. Regional airlines are flying 16% less than 5 years ago, 3% more than last year. Cargo traffic trended down 0.6% but up 18% vs same dates 5 years ago.
North America
Ninety five percent of bizjet flights in North America are originating in the US, with 50,366 bizjet sectors in the last week up by 4.6% compared to same period last year, well above the month-to-date trend of 2%. This summer has seen a recovery from relatively weak bizjet utilisation in the first quarter of this year, with year-to-date flight activity now tracking at -0.9% compared to 2023, down 4.7% compared to peak 2022 Jan-July.
In July-to-date this year, the strongest regional performance in the US is coming from New York, bizjet flights up by 10% compared to July last year. Super Midsize jets are the key performers from New York airports, with 1,843 flights so far this month, up by 25% year on year. 908 outbound New York flights were on Ultra-Long Range jets, 459 individual aircraft, activity up 40% compared to 5 years ago. Texas, California and Colorado are all seeing less activity this month compared to July 2023. The US State with largest gains in activity since 2019 is Tennessee, bizjet departures up by 55%.
Chart 2: Global US bizjet connections from airports in New York State in July 2024
July has been a strong month for bizjet activity in Caribbean, with 20,231 flights this month, up 10% compared to last year. 73% of bizjet traffic in the Caribbean is intra-regional, these connections up by 12% year on year. Flights from the Caribbean to Central America are up 22%, flights to South America up by 16%. There have been over 70 flights between the Caribbean and Europe, principally between Barbados, UK, Span and Bermuda.
European Region
Bizjet activity in Europe is hitting its normal seasonal peak as the holidays kick in, buoyed further by the major sporting events in Europe this year, with the EUROs football tournament, Wimbledon, the Open golf at Troon, and the Olympics just coming. Bizjet activity this month is up by 4% in the European area, still 10% down compared to peak 2022, up 15% versus 2019. Germany is still clearly seeing the after-glow of the EUROs, with 22% increase in bizjet flights compared to week 29 last year, significantly higher than even week 29 2022.
Chart 3: Bizjet activity in Europe in week 29 2024
Rest of World
Outside North America and Europe hit a peak last year, with recorded flights this year down on last year, 8% fewer sectors flown in Week 29 this year. The declines are apparent in bizjet activity in Mexico and Australia, whereas India and Brazil saw strong growth in Week 29 as they have done through year to date. The Middle East has seen an 8% drop in bizjet flights so far this year, and week 29 was in line with that trend. Overall, ROW is seeing solid growth this year in smaller jet activity, particularly very light jets. Heavy and long-range jet activity comprises 40% of ROW activity this week.
Chart 4: Bizjet activity in Rest of World countries.
Richard Koe comments “Bizjet activity in July is looking strong, with growth trends compared to last year, in contrast to year on year declines in the Spring. Notably, the day of Cloudstrike, on the 19th July, compared to the closest Monday in 2023, 17th July, global bizjet activity was up by 7%, whereas scheduled airline sectors were down 1% year on year (-4% in Europe).
