December 12, 2024
Over the past month worldwide private jet flight activity has pulled to within 1% of last year, business aviation’s second-best year ever.
Worldwide private jet flight activity (72,682 segments) dipped 1% sequentially while staying 2% above Week 50 on a year-over-year basis.
However, scroll to the far right columns to enter the holidays in a good mood.
Over the trailing four weeks, global private jet flights (288,084 segments) increased 5% year-over-year.
Private aviation’s most important market, the United States of America, with 202,803 segments (70% of all flights), was up 7% in the last four weeks.
WingX Managing Director Richard Koe, who provides the data, calls the run “impressive.”
He also notes that there have been just over 3.5 million private jet departures year-to-date.
That’s just 1% below last year, which means 2024 will likely be the third-best year ever.
Of course, if you want to be negative, 2023 was the second-best year, and 2022 was the best year of all time.
In other words, while some may see a Christmas tree with presents stacked around its base, others will look at these same numbers, see a downward slope over the past two years, and see nothing but coal.
The less optimistic view could be more prevalent in Europe, where over the four weeks through Dec. 15, the 33,888 segments were 1% down compared to last year.
| Market | Week 50 | %Change vs. prior week | %Change vs. W50 2023 | 52-week high | Week | 52-week low | Week | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | %Change vs YOY |
| Global | 72,682 | -1% | 2% | 76,527 | 2024-26 | 59,355 | 2024-02 | 288,084 | 5% |
| North America | 52,654 | -3% | 3% | 55,963 | 2024-42 | 39,430 | 2024-27 | 208,803 | 7% |
| USA | 50,966 | -3% | 3% | 54,305 | 2024-42 | 37,852 | 2024-27 | 202,379 | 7% |
| Florida | 6,877 | -11% | 6% | 8,741 | 2024-08 | 4,030 | 2024-32 | 29,368 | 9% |
| California | 4,556 | -7% | 0% | 5,214 | 2024-43 | 3,472 | 2024-27 | 19,082 | 8% |
| Texas | 5,767 | 6% | 5% | 5,846 | 2024-42 | 3,554 | 2024-27 | 21,890 | 10% |
| Europe | 8,774 | 7% | -3% | 15,188 | 2024-26 | 6,075 | 2023-52 | 33,888 | -1% |
| UK | 1,449 | 13% | 2% | 2,105 | 2024-28 | 881 | 2023-52 | 5,393 | -1% |
| Germany | 1,173 | 3% | -1% | 1,736 | 2024-25 | 552 | 2023-52 | 4,655 | -5% |
| France | 1,349 | 14% | -2% | 2,638 | 2024-30 | 921 | 2023-52 | 4,913 | -2% |
| Switzerland | 720 | 14% | -11% | 997 | 2024-03 | 526 | 2024-47 | 2,456 | -7% |
| Italy | 855 | 11% | 8% | 2,167 | 2024-29 | 487 | 2023-52 | 3,363 | 9% |
| Middle East | 1547 | 5% | 18% | 1,663 | 2024-24 | 1,013 | 2024-14 | 5,649 | 1% |
| Africa | 845 | 12% | -22% | 1,137 | 2023-51 | 588 | 2024-36 | 3,124 | -21% |
| Asia | 2,360 | 3% | 15% | 2,443 | 2024-46 | 1,820 | 2024-25 | 9,149 | 8% |
| South America | 2,441 | 5% | -2% | 2,441 | 2024-50 | 1,649 | 2024-07 | 9,351 | -1% |
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.
The 143,968 segments represented a 7% year-over-year gain.
The U.S., with 108,933 departures, was 9% up compared to the same period in 2023.
| Market (Part 91K & Part135) | Week 50 | %Change vs. prior wk | %Change vs W50 2023 | 52-week high | Week | 52-week low | Week | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | %Change vs YOY |
| Global | 34,666 | -5% | 1% | 41,434 | 2024-29 | 41,434 | 2024-29 | 143,968 | 7% |
| North America | 26,541 | -7% | 3% | 30,168 | 2024-42 | 30,168 | 2024-42 | 111,336 | 9% |
| USA | 25,943 | -7% | 3% | 29,522 | 2024-42 | 29,522 | 2024-42 | 108,933 | 9% |
| Florida | 3,931 | -13% | 6% | 5,341 | 2023-52 | 5,341 | 2023-52 | 17,354 | 9% |
| California | 2,793 | -10% | 0% | 3,378 | 2024-43 | 3,378 | 2024-43 | 12,216 | 11% |
| Texas | 2,452 | 3% | 4% | 2,754 | 2024-42 | 2,754 | 2024-42 | 9,758 | 12% |
| Europe | 5,980 | 7% | -6% | 11,097 | 2024-26 | 11,097 | 2024-26 | 22,851 | -3% |
| UK | 974 | 10% | -4% | 1,612 | 2024-28 | 1,612 | 2024-28 | 3,635 | -5% |
| Germany | 773 | 8% | -3% | 1,258 | 2024-25 | 1,258 | 2024-25 | 3,026 | -8% |
| France | 907 | 16% | -4% | 1,937 | 2024-30 | 1,937 | 2024-30 | 3,194 | -3% |
| Switzerland | 532 | 13% | -13% | 778 | 2024-07 | 778 | 2024-07 | 1,795 | -8% |
| Italy | 630 | 10% | 8% | 1,717 | 2024-29 | 1,717 | 2024-29 | 2,479 | 6% |
| Middle East | 691 | 1% | 18% | 1,043 | 2024-31 | 1,043 | 2024-31 | 2,614 | 6% |
| Africa | 292 | 16% | 4% | 336 | 2024-44 | 336 | 2024-44 | 1,057 | 8% |
| Asia | 261 | -6% | 0% | 396 | 2024-01 | 396 | 2024-01 | 1,209 | 15% |
| South America | 51 | 9% | -6% | 90 | 2024-01 | 90 | 2024-01 | 224 | -9% |
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.
Europe charter and fractional departures (22,851 in the past four weeks) were down 3%.
However, smaller markets, such as Asia (+15%), Africa (+8%), and the Middle East (+6%), all saw gains during the trailing four-week period.
But if you want to channel your inner Grinch, take heart that, with just 224 charter/fractional flights in the past four weeks, South America’s air traffic was down 9% year over year.
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