Lessons from Goldilocks: Private jet flight activity continues its fall for last year’s record levels but stays well ahead of pre-Covid highs

The global private jet activity was down 5% in Week 14 from last week to 65,681 segments, according to WingX. That’s 16% below the same week in 2022.

Worldwide private jet flying trails last year’s levels by 10% over the trailing four weeks.

Except for the Middle East (up 8% with 1,152 departures), every segment we track showed a week-to-week decline.

The Easter holidays helped drive Europe lower week-to-week by 8% with 8,880 segments. That’s 15% below last year.

Over the past month, Europe private flights are down 7%.

In the U.S., there were 47,299 flights for the week ending April 9. That’s 19% down from 2022 and 12% off, looking back at the past four-week period.

Total – Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2023 – Week 14

MarketWeek 14%Change vs. prior week%Change vs. 2022 (dates)52-week lowWeek52- week lowWeekLast 4 Weeks (Flights)%Change vs. 2022
Global65,681-5%-16%78,503W25 202257,233W51 2022274,055-10%
North America51,772-5%-18%62,573W14 202243,691W51 2022214,553-12%
USA47,299-4%-19%57,147W14 202238,832W51 2022194,864-12%
Florida7,727-7%-18%9,344W14 20223,744W39 202232,337-14%
California4,403-6%-19%5,817W16 20224,066W51 202218,852-16%
Texas4,638-14%-19%5,797W43 20223,730W5 202319,797-10%
Europe8,880-8%-15%17,608W26 20226,648W52 202238,259-7%
UK1,178-13%-21%2,336W26 2022982W52 20225,234-13%
Germany968-27%-30%1,915W26 2022651W52 20224,914-9%
France1,358-1%-14%3,032W21 20221,011W52 20225,705-10%
Switzerland681-9%-12%1,209W21 2022549W47 20222,948-11%
Italy842-9%-3%2,357W28 2022511W52 20223,4196%
Middle East1,1528%5%2,173W50 2022984W52 20224,927-7%
Africa729-5%-9%876W19 2022622W2 20233,141-2%
Asia2,351-3%19%3,269W50 20221,786W32 20229,89311%
South America1,374-9%-3%1,490W6 20231006W29 20225,83711%
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.

In the world of charter and fractional operators, flying increased by 1% week-to-week with 34,306 flights.

That was still 17% down from 2022 for the same week. Over the past month, charter and fractional flights were down 15%.

In the U.S., charter and fractional operators saw a 2% week-to-week gain with 25,303 segments, 18% off 2022 for the week, and 16% down for the trailing four weeks.

Part 135/91K – Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2023 – Week 14

Market (Part 91K & Part135)Week 14%Change vs. prior wk%Change vs. 202252-week highWeek52-week lowWeekLast 4 Weeks (Flights)%Change vs. 2022
Global34,3061%-17%41,552W25 202231,174W51 2022136,281-15%
North America26,9571%-18%32,327W14 202222,967W35 2022106,326-16%
USA25,3032%-18%30,511W14 202221,948W35 202299,589-16%
Florida4,5320%-16%5,792W52 20222,024W39 202217,945-17%
California2,752-3%-20%3,678W16 20222,635W51 202211,351-20%
Texas1,962-12%-21%2,494W42 20221,644W27 20228,263-14%
Europe6,468-3%-18%12,962W27 20224,995W52 202226,241-14%
UK905-9%-23%1,772W26 2022735W2 20233,715-18%
Germany681-21%-31%1,295W25 2022516W52 20223,155-18%
France9826%-17%2,401W21 2022764W52 20223,924-16%
Switzerland516-3%-12%868W21 2022415W47 20222,154-18%
Italy660-6%-6%1,855W28 2022389W52 20222,5961%
Middle East5548%3%1,075W50 2022512W52 20222,274-18%
Africa22313%-10%321W13 2022160W35 2022971-13%
Asia5953%18%1015W50 2022407W30 20222,4601%
South America38-27%27%83W45 202213W24 2022173-4%
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.

However, WingX Richard Koe tells us not to be sad or worried.

He says, “In the last four weeks, worldwide charter and fractional activity is trending 15% behind the same dates in 2022, but still up 24% versus comparable 2019.”

He adds, “Scheduled airline activity continues to recover but still trends 16% below April 2019.”

While Goldilocks may consider current demand “just right,” fasten your seatbelts.

Koe notes, “The deficits compared to 2022 are widening as we move into Q2-2023. This reflects a weakening economic environment and sensitivity to the cost of flying private.”

Luckily for flyers, costs seem to be pulling back. Jet card rates dropped 5.2% in Q1.

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