Global business jet activity grew 8% in Week 13 compared to the same period last year, according to WingX's weekly Global Market Tracker. This marked the highest week-on-week increase so far in 2025 and exceeded the four-week rolling average of 3%. Activity in Texas and California contributed most to the growth, with private and corporate flight departments showing more robust performance than charter and fractional operators.

In the first quarter of 2025, 900,221 business jet departures were tracked worldwide, 3% higher than Q1 2024 and 34% above 2019 levels. The active global fleet increased by 1% year-on-year and is 24% larger than it was five years ago. NetJets and Flexjet reported strong quarterly growth, up 10% and 17% respectively, while Vista Global activity fell 10%.

North America recorded 50,530 departures in Week 13, an 8% rise on last year. Activity across Part 135 and 91K operations also rose 8%, above the trend of 7%. U.S. activity is trending 4% ahead of last year, with Florida the busiest state at 105,204 departures. Tennessee posted a five-year gain of 46%, and Arizona was the only top-10 state to show a year-on-year decline.

Canada saw 4% growth in Q1 activity, and business jet departures rose 16% in the Cayman Islands. US-Mexico connections dipped 6% in March following tariff changes, while US-Canada links were flat month-on-month. The US-based fleet now includes 15,318 active jets, up 6% on 2024. Light and super midsize jets were the busiest segments, with 1,750 of these built by Bombardier, Dassault and Embraer.

In Europe, Week 13 departures rose 5% compared to last year, despite a quarterly dip of 1%. Germany’s weekly activity rose 24%, driven by domestic long-range travel. Light jets were most active, with ultra-long-range types up 5% and very light jets down 10%.

Outside North America and Europe, business jet activity rose 11% in Week 13. The Middle East saw the sharpest rise at 27%, with 136 arrivals in Jeddah driven by Eid al-Fitr travel. Richard Koe, WingX managing director, says: “Liberation Day does not yet appear to have made a dent in demand for business jet travel although the concerns raised around the economic impact of a global trade war are likely to slow the market in subsequent quarters. For Q1 2025, modest gains in year-on-year business jet activity is an improvement on last year and underlines the enduring resilience of the US market as well as strong emerging markets in the Middle East and Asia.”