December 12, 2024
As private jet operators and sellers of jet cards and memberships struggle with record demand, upward trends in the U.S. and globally continue. That’s according to the latest data from WingX.
Global private jet flights increased 1% week-over-week for Week 41, the week ending Oct. 17, 2021. The activity was up 20% for the same period in 2019 and 19% ahead of the last four-week period pre-Covid.
In the U.S., week-over-week private jet flights increased 3%, putting it 20% over the same week in 2019, and the same amount ahead of the past four weeks in 2019.
Florida activity was 9% ahead of the previous week, a 36% gain over the same week in 2019, and 43% ahead of the previous four weeks pre-Covid.
California flights jumped 7% week-over-week.
While European activity dropped 8% week-over-week, the U.K. was the opposite with a 9% week-over-week gain from Week 40 to 41.
Still, across Europe and major markets are more than double digits ahead of 2019 levels (table below).
| Market | Last Week (Flights) | % Change vs. prior week | % Change vs. 2019 | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | % Change vs. 2019 |
| Global | 74,870 | 1% | 20% | 295,757 | 19% |
| North America | 57,594 | 3% | 17% | 223,063 | 16% |
| USA | 53,358 | 3% | 20% | 207,228 | 20% |
| Florida | 6,119 | 9% | 36% | 21,500 | 43% |
| California | 5,611 | 7% | 25% | 20,948 | 17% |
| Texas | 5,425 | 3% | 17% | 20,676 | 16% |
| Europe | 12,715 | -8% | 32% | 57,385 | 29% |
| UK | 1,886 | 9% | 38% | 7,259 | 17% |
| Germany | 1,607 | -2% | 21% | 7,004 | 21% |
| France | 1,875 | -12% | 21% | 9,018 | 24% |
| Switzerland | 815 | -13% | 35% | 3,623 | 37% |
| Italy | 1,285 | -2% | 48% | 5,700 | 38% |
| Middle East | 1,304 | -4% | 46% | 5,110 | 45% |
| Africa | 671 | 0.3% | 53% | 2,654 | 62% |
| Asia | 1,693 | -2% | 9% | 6,686 | 10% |
| South America | 1,161 | -3% | 84% | 4,515 | 75% |
Looking to fractional and charter flights, global activity was 1% up week-over-week from Week 40 to Week 41.
Globally, fractional and charter flights were up 19% compared to Week 41 in 2019 and 18% over the past weeks compared to 2019.
Florida and California had the biggest gains with 12% and 8% week-over-week increases.
Around the world, Africa and South America saw large gains on small bases.
| Market (Part 91K & Part135) | Last Week (Flights) | % Change vs. prior week | % Change vs. 2019 | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | % Change vs. 2019 |
| Global | 34,491 | 1% | 19% | 136,899 | 18% |
| North America | 25,040 | 3% | 10% | 96,439 | 10% |
| USA | 24,454 | 2% | 15% | 94,398 | 15% |
| Florida | 3,021 | 12% | 30% | 10,192 | 35% |
| California | 3,028 | 8% | 22% | 11,348 | 11% |
| Texas | 2,041 | -0.1% | 8% | 7,853 | 11% |
| Europe | 9,085 | -4% | 52% | 39,064 | 43% |
| UK | 1,364 | 12% | 65% | 5,190 | 30% |
| Germany | 1,075 | 6% | 54% | 4,496 | 39% |
| France | 1,215 | -16% | 35% | 6,120 | 42% |
| Switzerland | 585 | -15% | 49% | 2,567 | 47% |
| Italy | 994 | -0.1% | 66% | 4,342 | 53% |
| Middle East | 590 | -9% | 67% | 2,380 | 65% |
| Africa | 163 | 32% | 34% | 555 | 16% |
| Asia | 173 | -11% | -3% | 740 | -4% |
| South America | 26 | 53% | -10% | 66 | -30% |
“Last month IATA estimated that its passenger numbers would not recover before 2024, which gives business aviation an extended window to consolidate its advantage in connectivity and keep first-time users in the industry,” says WingX managing director Richard Koe.
He adds, “The challenge which is clearly emerging is a capacity constraint; the leading charter and fractional operators in October 2021 are flying at annualized rates of over 1,000 hours a year, which may not be sustainable. With seasonal demand peaking in the next month in the U.S., it will prove very challenging to maintain service levels”.
You can read more about the key issues facing the industry: The future of Jet Cards: You can’t always get what you want and Record Demand Means A New Normal, New Rules For Private Jet Flyers.
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