Global private jet flight activity recorded one of the largest YoY declines over the past week after a slight recovery last week.
This past week, August 31st through September 6th, private jets worldwide recorded over 73,000 total departures.
This is about 3% fewer flights than the same week last year, one of the largest year-over-year drops of the year.
Additionally, this was also a 4% drop compared to last week.
WingX data shows 11 weeks with a year-over-year decline in departures this week.
That includes six of the last 10 weeks.
Last year, we saw only three down weeks all year.
So far, in 2026, on a year-over-year basis, the scorecard shows:
In week 36, private jets recorded 73,330 total flights worldwide.
This 3% year-over-year drop brought the current year-to-date trend to a 3.4% gain compared to last year.
This matches the trend for the same dates in 2025 compared to 2024.
Nick Koscinski, WingX analyst, spoke with Private Jet Card Comparisons about the recent decline.
Koscinski stated:
‘North America’s 5.6% contraction last week seems significant, however that is entirely due to when the Labor Day holiday fell this year vs last. In fact, Labor Day weekend this year was up 2.5% compared to Labor Day weekend last year. Instead, the most notable regional trend last week was the Middle East posting 5.1% YOY growth, just the second weekly gain since the conflict began earlier this year, although still down heavily year-to-date.’
Additionally, over the past four weeks, global private jets have recorded 305,991 total flights.
This is relatively flat compared to the same period last year, showing limited growth worldwide.
North America is typically the largest market for private jet flight activity, recording nearly 50,000 total departures over the past week.
However, this was a large step back of about 6% compared to last year, largely contributing to the global year-over-year decline.
The United States saw a 5% year-over-year drop, recording only 47,976 total departures.
The region’s largest markets, Florida, California, and Texas, each saw year-over-year drops.
The US also saw 5% fewer flights than last week, with only Texas matching last week’s flight levels.
Even so, this year-over-year drop is most likely due to Labor Day holiday timing in the US, which typically softens activity.
Last year, Labor Day was a week earlier, in week 35. This means that we are comparing a Labor Day weekend lull over the past week to a normal work week last year.
According to WingX analysts, Labor Day holiday travel was actually up about 2.5% compared to last year.
Europe had a strong week, reporting over 13,000 total private jet departures.
This was about 5% more flights than in week 36 last year.
Italy and the U.K. led the way, each recording double-digit year-over-year gains.
| Market | Week 36 | %Change vs. prior week | %Change vs W36 2025 | 52-week high | Week | 52-week low | Week | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | %Change vs YOY |
| Global | 73,330 | -4% | -3% | 83,735 | 2025-42 | 64,182 | 2026-01 | 305,991 | 0% |
| North America | 49,701 | -5% | -6% | 61,914 | 2025-42 | 45,817 | 2026-01 | 212,531 | 1% |
| USA | 47,976 | -5% | -5% | 59,999 | 2025-42 | 44,773 | 2026-01 | 204,715 | 1% |
| Florida | 4,439 | -3% | -6% | 10,109 | 2026-08 | 4,439 | 2026-36 | 18,361 | 1% |
| California | 4,484 | -3% | -4% | 6,074 | 2026-07 | 4,091 | 2025-52 | 19,388 | 1% |
| Texas | 4,928 | 0% | -3% | 6,738 | 2025-47 | 4,344 | 2025-52 | 20,422 | 3% |
| Europe | 13,415 | 1% | 5% | 15,564 | 2026-26 | 6,582 | 2026-01 | 52,063 | 2% |
| UK | 1,997 | 11% | 10% | 2,186 | 2026-27 | 934 | 2026-01 | 7,122 | 2% |
| Germany | 1,324 | 9% | 1% | 1,589 | 2026-24 | 542 | 2026-01 | 4,656 | -2% |
| France | 1,998 | -1% | 1% | 2,816 | 2026-23 | 1,074 | 2026-01 | 7,714 | -2% |
| Switzerland | 890 | 4% | 7% | 1,084 | 2026-04 | 582 | 2025-48 | 3,305 | 1% |
| Italy | 2,077 | 9% | 12% | 2,482 | 2026-31 | 571 | 2026-01 | 7,532 | 2% |
| Middle East | 1,639 | 1% | 5% | 1,834 | 2025-44 | 763 | 2026-11 | 6,516 | -2% |
| Africa | 919 | -2% | 29% | 1,092 | 2025-48 | 629 | 2025-39 | 3,657 | 20% |
| Asia | 2,028 | -6% | -7% | 2,802 | 2025-49 | 1,730 | 2026-31 | 8,055 | -9% |
| South America | 2,892 | -8% | 9% | 3,156 | 2026-35 | 1,783 | 2026-01 | 12,056 | 12% |
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.
Compared to last week, Europe also saw a 1% week-over-week gain.
The U.K. saw an 11% jump, while Italy saw a 9% increase in private jet flights.
France was the only major market that saw a week-over-week drop, with 1% fewer flights.
The rest of the world saw strong private jet numbers.
The Middle East posted signs of recovery, recording 1,639 total private jet departures.
This is about 5% more flights than last year.
Africa also saw the largest year-over-year gain, with 29% more flights.
Overall, Part 91K and Part 135 operations also struggled across the board, recording just under 38,000 total departures.
This is about 5% fewer flights than last year, in line with overall private jet movement trends.
Additionally, this is about 5% fewer flights week over week.
The US, which is the largest market for charter and fractional flights, saw only 26,497 total departures.
This is about a 5% drop compared to last year. Florida, California, and Texas each posted year-over-year drops.
The US also saw a 5% week-over-week drop, largely led by a 5% decrease in flights in California.
| Market (Part 91K & Part 135) | Week 36 | %Change vs. prior week | %Change vs W36 2025 | 52-week high | Week | 52-week low | Week | Last 4 Weeks (Flights) | %Change vs YOY |
| Global | 37,848 | -5% | -5% | 45,498 | 2026-26 | 34,372 | 2026-03 | 159,796 | 0% |
| North America | 27,186 | -6% | -6% | 34,610 | 2025-42 | 26,882 | 2026-05 | 117,203 | 2% |
| USA | 26,497 | -5% | -5% | 33,917 | 2026-15 | 26,332 | 2026-05 | 113,940 | 2% |
| Florida | 2,514 | -1% | -6% | 6,172 | 2026-12 | 2,514 | 2026-36 | 10,427 | 1% |
| California | 2,860 | -5% | -4% | 4,082 | 2026-07 | 2,860 | 2026-36 | 12,516 | 2% |
| Texas | 2,265 | -1% | -3% | 3,126 | 2025-47 | 2,147 | 2026-04 | 9,350 | 6% |
| Europe | 9,046 | -1% | 0% | 11,091 | 2026-26 | 4,804 | 2026-02 | 35,749 | -3% |
| UK | 1,351 | 14% | 2% | 1,520 | 2026-27 | 723 | 2026-02 | 4,739 | -7% |
| Germany | 801 | 5% | -5% | 1,010 | 2025-38 | 397 | 2026-01 | 2,854 | -6% |
| France | 1,376 | -4% | -2% | 2,019 | 2026-23 | 699 | 2026-02 | 5,468 | -4% |
| Switzerland | 658 | 6% | 4% | 748 | 2026-07 | 416 | 2025-48 | 2,445 | -1% |
| Italy | 1,493 | 6% | 10% | 1,822 | 2026-31 | 432 | 2026-01 | 5,488 | -2% |
| Middle East | 728 | -9% | -20% | 982 | 2025-44 | 346 | 2026-11 | 3,078 | -24% |
| Africa | 198 | -3% | 7% | 285 | 2025-48 | 144 | 2026-09 | 787 | 3% |
| Asia | 175 | -13% | -38% | 379 | 2025-52 | 175 | 2026-36 | 806 | -32% |
| South America | 81 | 0% | 65% | 86 | 2026-16 | 30 | 2025-42 | 305 | 43% |
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.
Across the Atlantic, Europe Part 91K and Part 135 operations remained relatively flat year over year.
Germany and France each posted year-over-year decreases. However, Italy offset this with a double-digit gain.
Europe posted a slight 1% drop from last week, while the U.K. saw the largest week-over-week gain of about 14%.
Fractional and Charter operations struggled in the Middle East, with 20% fewer flights year over year.
Asia posted the largest year-over-year drop, seeing 38% fewer flights than the same week last year.
Africa posted a 7% gain, while South America recorded the largest year-over-year jump, although it remains the smallest market for Part 91K and Part 135 operations.
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