Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2023 – Week 40

Global private jet flight activity held its own this past week. However, one CEO says we are already in a recession and is preparing for bumpy skies ahead.

By Doug Gollan, October 12, 2023

Worldwide private jet flight activity (72,105 segments) in Week 40 dropped 2% from the previous week, putting it flat with last year, according to the latest data from WingX.

U.S. private jet flight activity

The United States (50,719) was down 1% week-to-week, the same decrease from last year.

While Europe flights (12,273) fell 9% from the previous week, they were 3% ahead of 2022.

South America (+13%), the Middle East (+11%), and Asia (+10%) each saw double-digit growth compared to the same period a year ago.

PRIVATE JET FLIGHT ACTIVITY ANALYSIS – 2023 – WEEK 40

Market	Week 40	%Change vs. prior week	%Change vs 2022	52-week high	Week	52-week low	Week	Last 4 Weeks	%Change vs. 2022
Global	72,105	-2%	0%	76,521	W26 2023	57,233	W51 2022	219,839	-1%
North America	54,582	-1%	-1%	58,838	W41 2022	41,108	W27 2023	218,824	-2%
USA	50,719	-1%	-1%	55,070	W41 2022	37,073	W27 2023	203,174	-2%
Florida	5,384	14%	-1%	9,174	W8 2023	3,628	W35 2023	19,032	1%
California	4,737	0%	-2%	5,512	W46 2022	3,463	W27 2023	18,993	-4%
Texas	5,314	5%	-1%	5,797	W43 2022	3,335	W27 2023	20,534	-5%
Europe	12,273	-9%	3%	16,289	W26 2023	6,648	W52 2022	52,787	-4%
UK	1,785	9%	6%	2,014	W28 2023	982	W52 2022	6,893	-6%
Germany	1,241	-21%	-15%	1,623	W24 2023	651	W52 2022	5,851	-14%
France	1,833	-20%	-4%	2,653	W26 2023	1,011	W52 2022	7,994	-2%
Switzerland	690	-13%	-5%	1,039	W3 2023	549	W47 2022	3,044	-4%
Italy	1,482	-12%	14%	2,264	W28 2023	511	W52 2022	6,230	-1%
Middle East	1,550	5%	11%	2,173	W50 2022	984	W52 2022	5,828	-3%
Africa	743	6%	3%	987	W17 2023	622	W2 2023	2,881	2%
Asia	2,388	-2%	10%	3,269	W50 2022	1,913	W27 2023	9,659	11%
South America	1,497	6%	13%	1,498	W32 2023	1,051	W44 2022	5,702	15%

Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.

Fractional and charter operators flew 38,391 segments in the most recent week, a 2% increase from the previous week and 2% up from 2022.

The U.S. saw 27,056 Part 135/91K flights, a 5% week-to-week jump and 1% up from last year.

PART 135/91K – PRIVATE JET FLIGHT ACTIVITY ANALYSIS – 2023 – WEEK 40

Market (Part 91K & Part135)	Week 40	% Change vs prior wk	% Change vs 2022	52-week high	Week	52-week low	Week	Last 4 Weeks	% Change vs. 2022
Global	38,391	2%	2%	40,375	W26 2023	31,174	W51 2022	149,526	1%
North America	28,040	4%	1%	30,412	W52 2022	21,649	W27 2023	107,591	0%
USA	27,056	5%	1%	29,057	W41 2022	20,505	W27 2023	103,663	0%
Florida	3,142	24%	2%	5,792	W52 2022	1,958	W35 2023	10,313	2%
California	2,986	2%	-2%	3,410	W46 2022	2,253	W27 2023	11,624	-1%
Texas	2,407	11%	-1%	2,494	W42 2022	1,404	W27 2023	8,796	-1%
Europe	9,343	-4%	6%	12,171	W27 2023	4,995	W52 2022	38,360	1%
UK	1,371	15%	10%	1,516	W28 2023	735	W2 2023	5,236	0%
Germany	934	-15%	-11%	1,223	W37 2022	516	W52 2022	4,143	-12%
France	1,395	-15%	2%	1,943	W27 2023	764	W52 2022	5,834	1%
Switzerland	531	-10%	-3%	776	W7 2023	415	W47 2022	2,257	-2%
Italy	1,188	-8%	18%	1,847	W28 2023	389	W52 2022	4,859	3%
Middle East	841	0%	12%	1,075	W50 2022	512	W52 2022	3,143	5%
Africa	268	7%	0%	341	W17 2023	180	W04 2023	1,009	17%
Asia	692	16%	28%	1,015	W50 2022	443	W31 2023	2,364	8%
South America	33	-13%	43%	83	W45 2022	18	W22 2023	141	-3%

Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.

In Europe, charter and fractional flying (9,343 segments) were down 4% from Week 39 and 6% up compared to Week 40 in 2022.

In Asia, the 692 segments were a 16% gain from the prior week and 28% ahead of 2022.

What’s ahead for private jets?

WingX Managing Director Richard Koe says, “Bizjet demand is realigning with levels in October 2022, which is when the post-lockdown surge tapered. European activity jumped up this week compared to last year, which may have been an anomaly based on the late summer sunshine. US flight activity in 2023 is cumulatively close to the same period in 2022, with fractional operators hitting new activity highs.”

If the numbers look okay, the new CEO of Verijet says don’t get comfortable.

Michael Marcotte says we are already in a recession, and providers need to get ready for turbulent skies ahead.

In an interview yesterday, he told us, “Part of caring about people is making sure a company is not only economically viable and survives, but thrives, during a significant recession, which we are in. Anybody who doesn’t understand that has not looked at the price of eggs or fuel.”

The Cirrus Vision Jet operator grounded six of its 21 aircraft and furloughed an undisclosed number of pilots.

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