US business jet flights rose 4% post-election compared to the same period a year earlier, but Week 14 (31 March to 6 April), coinciding with America's ‘Liberation Day’, recorded a 3% drop versus 2024. Globally, traffic remained flat. In contrast, European activity climbed 12% due to a soft comparison with last year’s Easter holiday.

Business jet flights from the top ten billionaire cities increased 2% over the last four weeks, with growth in Moscow and London offset by a 20% drop in Singapore. In North America, Florida experienced a 5% fall in Week 14 departures, led by a 32% drop at West Palm Beach. Managed aircraft fleets were hardest hit there, with a 43% fall.

Super mid and ultra long-range jet activity increased across the US in the past week, but bizliners and entry-level aircraft saw 10% and 6% respective declines, signalling reduced demand for smaller types. US-Mexico connections dropped 19%, mainly among managed and branded charter fleets, while flights to Canada and the UK grew by 8% and 12%. Transatlantic corporate travel from New York to London increased.

Europe’s 12% year-on-year Week 14 growth far outpaced the prior four-week trend of 2%, led by Germany (+31%), Switzerland (+20%) and the UK (+18%). German domestic routes from Berlin, Hannover, Stuttgart and Frankfurt saw strong super mid jet usage.

Elsewhere, business jet activity rose 8%, bolstered by Gulf country movements amid shifting Eid dates. Brazil grew 14% on light and midsize demand, and China saw an 11% rise.

WingX managing director Richard Koe says: “Liberation Day and the associated enactment of global tariffs on imports into the US triggered market turmoil and expectations of a recession but so far only a ripple in terms of declining flight activity, most notably in Florida. An uptick in transatlantic corporate flight department travel may have been linked to tariff policy changes. We shall have to wait to see the impact in Europe as this week was affected by comparison with Easter holidays last year.”