October 31, 2024
With the prospect of coal in their stockings – read cancelations and delays – it appears many private jet travelers were proactive and headed out for the holidays a bit earlier this year.
Private jet flights globally were down week-over-week by 16% for the week ended Dec. 26. Still, the 61,794 flights were 32% more than Week 51 in 2019 – before the pandemic.
The week over week dip was universal, with U.S. flights down 17% compared to Week 50, according to WingX. Texas flights dropped by 25% week-over-week.
That said, U.S. private flights were 34% above 2019 levels, with Florida 52% ahead of pre-pandemic Christmas week flights.
In Europe, Christmas week flying was down 17%, with the U.K. down 38%, putting its volume 1% ahead of the same period in 2019.
| Market | Last Week (Flights) | % Change vs. prior week | % Change vs. 2019 | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | % Change vs. 2019 |
| Global | 61794 | -16% | 32% | 273,212 | 21% |
| North America | 48875 | -16% | 32% | 216,884 | 22% |
| USA | 43668 | -17% | 34% | 197,013 | 23% |
| Florida | 7134 | -8% | 52% | 29,909 | 45% |
| California | 4,633 | -16% | 23% | 20,201 | 23% |
| Texas | 4,203 | -25% | 30% | 20,375 | 21% |
| Europe | 8,802 | -17% | 28% | 38,654 | 14% |
| UK | 921 | -38% | 1% | 4,926 | -1% |
| Germany | 963 | -27% | 36% | 4,890 | 5% |
| France | 1,297 | -21% | 17% | 5,902 | 15% |
| Switzerland | 836 | -2% | 34% | 3,001 | 16% |
| Italy | 615 | -20% | 24% | 2,738 | 5% |
| Middle East | 1,087 | -12% | 31% | 4,774 | 37% |
| Africa | 591 | -12% | 27% | 2,509 | 41% |
| Asia | 1,864 | -12% | 11% | 8,097 | 18% |
| South America | 1,237 | -14% | 52% | 5,256 | 60% |
Numerous charter and jet card sellers have coached clients to avoid peak days. Record demand has created challenges for private aviation sellers and customers.
It seems like some listened. Globally, charter and fractional flights were down 9% for Week 51 compared to Week 50 of 2021, which still represented a 45% increase from 2019. And for the trailing four weeks, charter and fractional flights worldwide are 38% higher than before than pandemic.
While Florida saw a 1% week-over-week decline, charter and fractional flights for the Sunshine State were 64% ahead of 2019 and 61%cup for the trailing month, compared to 2019.
In Europe, despite a 15% decline to the previous week, charter and fractional activity were up 36% compared to 2019.
| Market (Part 91K & Part135) | Last Week (Flights) | % Change vs. prior week | % Change vs. 2019 | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | % Change vs. 2019 |
| Global | 33,021 | -9% | 45% | 136,397 | 38% |
| North America | 26,581 | -7% | 48% | 109,234 | 43% |
| USA | 25,059 | -9% | 48% | 104,631 | 44% |
| Florida | 4,364 | -1% | 64% | 17,397 | 61% |
| California | 3,067 | -10% | 43% | 12,751 | 43% |
| Texas | 1,899 | -20% | 49% | 8,576 | 42% |
| Europe | 6,077 | -15% | 36% | 25,701 | 24% |
| UK | 693 | -36% | 8% | 3,480 | 8% |
| Germany | 643 | -25% | 45% | 3,103 | 15% |
| France | 930 | -20% | 30% | 4,000 | 29% |
| Switzerland | 628 | 1% | 37% | 2,234 | 25% |
| Italy | 479 | -17% | 31% | 2,037 | 12% |
| Middle East | 422 | -3% | 34% | 1,674 | 50% |
| Africa | 97 | -21% | -38% | 441 | -3% |
| Asia | 228 | -0.4% | 20% | 871 | 28% |
| South America | 33 | -6% | 74% | 130 | 31% |
Still, there was enough availability in Europe that NetJets Europe could reposition 15 jets to the U.S. to assist on this side of the Pond.
Looking ahead, there are no signs of a let-up. “With new variants like Omicron in the mix, demand for flying privately is going to be as strong as ever going into 2022,” predicts Greg Johnson, CEO of charter payment platform Tuvoli.
Moreover, he notes a return of flights to previously depressed markets. While Teterboro Airport, serving New York City, was 14% below 2019 levels, during December, that trend reversed. Tuvoli data shows flights to the busy private jet airport 14% ahead of 2019 this month.
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