Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2023 – Week 10

Despite an up week, charter and fractional operators are lagging 2022’s private jet flight activity by double digits. That could be a good thing.

By Doug Gollan, March 16, 2023

Despite an up week, charter and fractional operators are lagging 2022’s private jet flight activity by double digits. That could be a good thing

Global private jet flight activity increased by 4% week-to-week in Week 10 with 70,829 flights. That was still 7% behind 2021’s numbers.

Over the past month, private jet segments worldwide were down 7%, with 280,165 flights.

U.S. private jet flights

U.S. activity for the week ending March 12, 2023, was up 6% from the previous week, with 51,129 flights, down 9% from last year.

The 201,039 flights over the trailing month were also down 9%.

In Europe, the 37,479 flights over the past month represented an 11% year-over-year decline.

On smaller numbers, Asia (+19%), South America (+18%), the Middle East (+13%), and Africa (+12%) continued to see gains. Together, they accounted for just under 25,000 flights over the past four weeks.

Total – Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2023 – Week 10

MarketWeek 10%Change vs. prior week%Change vs. 2022 52-week highWeek52-week lowWeekLast 4 Weeks %Change vs. 2022
Global70,8294%-7%78,503W25 202257,233W51 2022280,165-7%
North America56,3166%-8%62,573W14 202243,691W51 2022221,438-8%
USA51,1296%-9%57,147W14 202238,832W51 2022201,039-9%
Florida8,6837%-5%9,721W11 20223,744W39 202234,258-11%
California5,0779%-10%5,817W16 20224,066W51 202219,796-15%
Texas5,77222%-6%6,176W10 20223,730W5 202320,537-7%
Europe9,2922%-7%17,608W26 20226,648W52 202237,479-11%
UK1,2688%-6%2,336W26 2022982W52 20224,919-12%
Germany1,135-9%-12%1,915W26 2022651W52 20224,826-5%
France1,4624%-6%3,032W21 20221,011W52 20225,627-11%
Switzerland797-8%-11%1,209W21 2022549W47 20223,528-10%
Italy79219%8%2,357W28 2022511W52 20223,0032%
Middle East1,302-11%3%2,173W50 2022984W52 20225,56213%
Africa708-3%1%876W19 2022622W2 20233,13912%
Asia2,497-3%18%3,269W50 20221,786W32 20229,98319%
South America1,4891%16%1,490W6 20231,006W29 20225,81218%
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.

Less shiny were the numbers from charter and fractional operators.

Global flights were 15% below last year’s Week 10 levels, and the 137,499 segments were a similar 15% off 2022’s record pace.

In the U.S., the 101,169 charter and fractional flights marked a 16% drop for the trailing four weeks.

Florida, the biggest market, saw 18,460 departures during the past month, an 18% drop.

European charter and fractional flights were down more. They were 20% below last year with 25,510 flights.

Part 135/91K – Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2023 – Week 10

Market (Part 91K & Part135)Week 10%Change vs. prior wk%Change vs 2022Last 52-week lowWeek52-week lowWeekLast 4 Weeks (Flights)%Change vs. 2022
Global34,4004%-15%41,552W25 202231,174W51 2022137,499-15%
North America27,2045%-15%32,766W10 202222,967W35 2022108,386-15%
USA25,3054%-16%30,754W10 202221,948W35 2022101,169-16%
Florida4,6926%-13%5,792W52 20222,024W39 202218,460-18%
California2,99310%-18%3,745W10 20222,635W51 202211,936-20%
Texas2,35023%-12%2,734W10 20221,644W27 20228,307-13%
Europe6,3033%-15%12,962W27 20224,995W52 202225,510-20%
UK8647%-15%1,772W26 2022735W2 20233,454-20%
Germany754-4%-16%1,295W25 2022516W52 20223,135-12%
France9956%-14%2,401W21 2022764W52 20223,873-18%
Switzerland596-7%-19%868W21 2022415W47 20222,641-17%
Italy60028%7%1,855W28 2022389W52 20222,236-5%
Middle East580-14%-16%1,075W50 2022512W52 20222,505-7%
Africa224-4%-6%321W13 2022160W35 2022947-2%
Asia604-7%4%1,015W50 2022407W30 20222,4209%
South America4319%-19%83W45 202213W24 2022170-10%
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.

Even smaller markets like the Middle East, Africa, and Asia all saw declines in fractional and charter flights over the past four weeks.

What do these numbers mean?

WingX Managing Director Richard Koe says, “March 2022 was the record peak in business aviation activity, reflecting the pent-up demand as the pandemic faded and lockdowns were released. So, it’s not a great surprise to see lower YOY activity. However, with emerging concerns of another global financial crisis, we may well see further softening in business jet usage in the next few months.” 

Not all providers are bothered by the dip. “Last year’s levels were operationally unsustainable,” he says.

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