While global private jet flights for Week 1 of 2022 were 5% below the previous week, charter and fractional flights saw an 8% gain week-to-week for the second consecutive week.
According to WingX, there were 62,248 private jet flights worldwide for the week ending January 9, 2022, 35% more than the same week last year and the same amount up for the trailing four weeks.
North American flights made up 50,388 of the global total despite an 8% dip and were 35% ahead of 2021. U.S. private jet movements fell 9% week-to-week, although Texas saw a 0.1% gain.
Still, U.S. private jet flights were 36% up compared to Week 1 in 2021 and the same amount for the past month.
Europe enjoyed an 8% week-to-week increase. The U.K., Germany, France, and Switzerland saw week-to-week gains of 18%-to-19%.
In the U.K., flights were up 97% compared to Week 1 of 2021. Switzerland private jet flights were up 85% year-over-year for the week.
Still, Florida had more private jet flights last week (8,341) than all of Europe (8,218).
Market | Last Week (Flights) | % Change vs. prior week | % Change vs. 2021 | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | % Change vs. 2021/20 |
Global | 62,248 | -5% | 35% | 263,492 | 35% |
North America | 50,388 | -8% | 35% | 212,482 | 36% |
USA | 45,154 | -9% | 36% | 191,106 | 36% |
Florida | 8,341 | -17% | 31% | 33,208 | 27% |
California | 4,695 | -6% | 46% | 19,823 | 45% |
Texas | 4,607 | 0.1% | 40% | 18,981 | 34% |
Europe | 8,218 | 8% | 53% | 35,259 | 44% |
UK | 1,054 | 18% | 97% | 4,359 | 63% |
Germany | 838 | 19% | 33% | 3,826 | 39% |
France | 1,228 | 18% | 53% | 5,213 | 44% |
Switzerland | 883 | 19% | 85% | 3,314 | 62% |
Italy | 456 | -3% | 42% | 2,306 | 59% |
Middle East | 1,076 | 14% | 10% | 4,350 | 12% |
Africa | 593 | 20% | 15% | 2,350 | 7% |
Asia | 1,756 | 13% | -0.5% | 7,294 | 7% |
South America | 968 | 15% | 14% | 4,482 | 32% |
While owners may have been taking a break after flying at record levels for the holidays, charter and fractional operators saw a continued surge.
In the U.S., charter and fractional flights increase 11% week-to-week for the second straight week. Florida private jet flights saw a week-to-week 37% spike and were 23% up compared to the same week of 2021.
Market (Part 91K & Part135) | Last Week (Flights) | % Change vs. prior week | % Change vs. 2021 | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | % Change vs. 2021/20 |
Global | 32,089 | 8% | 36% | 137,709 | 37% |
North America | 25,958 | 12% | 32% | 110,949 | 34% |
USA | 24,388 | 11% | 31% | 104,782 | 34% |
Florida | 4,755 | 37% | 23% | 19,492 | 23% |
California | 2,866 | 4% | 40% | 12,537 | 46% |
Texas | 1,895 | 5% | 35% | 8,160 | 32% |
Europe | 5,720 | -9% | 60% | 24,477 | 49% |
UK | 784 | -1% | 108% | 3,244 | 65% |
Germany | 574 | -21% | 40% | 2,577 | 48% |
France | 854 | -16% | 70% | 3,731 | 56% |
Switzerland | 696 | -4% | 89% | 2,551 | 60% |
Italy | 336 | -26% | 52% | 1,744 | 70% |
Middle East | 417 | -11% | -2% | 1,653 | 5% |
Africa | 109 | -12% | -1% | 438 | -12% |
Asia | 272 | 1% | -4% | 959 | 2% |
South America | 24 | -36% | 50% | 113 | 82% |
European charter and fractional flights were down 9% compared to New Year’s week. However, they were still 60% over Week 1 of 2021.
Richard Koe, Managing Director of WingX, said, “In the first ten days of January 2022, business jets flew 26% more flights than two years ago, on the eve of the pandemic. Compared to January 2019, business jet activity so far this year is up 18%. Versus the virus-affected slowdown last year, this year is up by 38%.”