Business jet and turboprop sectors are one per cent ahead of a comparable November 2022 and 20 per cent ahead compared to four years ago. Focusing solely on business jets, 192,000 sectors have been flown 19 days into November, on par with last year and 22 per cent ahead of four years ago. Year to date, global business jet activity is down by four per cent compared to 2022 and 19 per cent ahead compared to 2019.

According to WingX's weekly Global Market Tracker, nineteen days into November European business jet activity is 10 per cent behind the same dates last year and 0.2 per cent behind November four years ago. Germany, the UK and France are the top three markets, all seeing activity drop below 2019. Ten of the busiest markets are weighing regional activity down, but Poland and Greece buck the regional trend with activity on a par with last year.

Despite overall market declines, fractional and private fleets are flying more than any November in the last four years. This is in contrast to corporate flight departments, where activity has fallen 23 per cent compared to November last year and is 27 per cent behind four years ago. Paris-London is the busiest international metro connection for European fractional fleets, with 41 business jet flights so far this month. The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet has operated the most flights this month within private flight departments.

So far this month, North American business jet activity is one per cent above a comparable last year and 22 per cent ahead of four years ago. Departures from the US accounted for 92 per cent of regional business jet activity, with flights up one per cent compared to last year and up 21 per cent versus October four years ago. There has been strong growth in the Caribbean, whereas Canada and Bahamas are seeing slightly less YOY activity.

Over the weekend of 17-19 November, Las Vegas hosted the F1 Grand Prix. There were 927 business jet arrivals into Las Vegas airports that weekend, with most of the traffic coming from California. Van Nuys saw 131 business jet departures bound for Las Vegas airports, and 67 per cent of all inbound flights to Las Vegas airports over the GP weekend flew less than 90 minutes. Fractional operators worked hard during the GP weekend, accounting for a third of all arrivals into Las Vegas airports.

Through to the 19 November, business jet activity in Asia has been on a par with last year and 49 per cent ahead of 2019. Ultra long-range jets flew the most flights this month, more than any other November in the last four years. Bizliners, super midsize and super light aircraft types are also flying more flights than any other November in the last four years. The very light jet market has declined 37 per cent in terms of flights compared to last year.

Activity in the Middle East this month has fallen six per cent compared to last November but is 47 per cent ahead of four years ago. Saudi Arabia is an outlier to the regional trend, and its activity is ahead of any November in the last four years. Most major markets are ahead of four years ago, despite declines compared to November 2022.

Richard Koe, WingX managing director, comments: “Global business jet activity is exceeding last year's November activity and is still one per cent behind November 2021, but is almost 20 per cent ahead of November 2019. Much of the lift is coming from strong demand in the US. European demand is wilting and Middle East has tapered from last year's heights.”