This website uses cookies
More information
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

ACE 2026 - The home of global charter.

Related information from the Handbook...

WingX Advance

Data Services

BAN's World Gazetteer

Germany
The bimonthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Request your printed copy

Fractional fleets and African demand boost business jet growth
Global business jet activity has increased three percent year-on-year with light and super midsize types leading the trend, while Saudi Arabia strengthens its expanding luxury travel sector.

Business jet activity rose 3% year-on-year in Week 48 (24–30 November) 2025, with 70,779 global departures according to WingX. Over the past four weeks (Weeks 45–48), there were nearly 310,000 flights, 7% ahead of the same period in 2024. This rolling trend exceeded the year-to-date increase of 5%.

November saw Africa lead with 25% more business jet departures than in 2024, while Europe posted just 1% growth. Fractional operators were responsible for 20% of all November flights, rising 12% over the previous year. NetJets and Flexjet handled 83% of that traffic and posted a combined 14% growth.

Light and super midsize jets were key, with the Phenom 300 and Challenger 300/350 families making up 15% of all business jet activity and each rising 15% year-on-year.

North America matched the global trend with 3% more activity in Week 48. California saw 6% growth, followed by Texas (5%) and Florida (4%). The region’s rolling four-week trend was 8% up year-on-year, with Florida leading at 10%.

European activity fell 3% year-on-year in Week 48, with only the UK recording 1% growth. France declined 2%, Switzerland 3%, Germany 5% and Italy 6%. The region’s four-week trend is now just 1% up year-on-year.

Rest of World traffic accounted for 10% of global business jet departures in Week 48, with Africa up 32%, the Middle East up 12%, and Asia and South America both up 10%. Lagos and Johannesburg drove Africa’s growth with 65% or more year-on-year increases. Larger jets made up two thirds of African business jet traffic.

In the Middle East, Flexjet has gained approval to operate domestic flights in Saudi Arabia, joining VistaJet. Since its approval in August, VistaJet has flown 28 domestic flights in the Kingdom, mostly between Riyadh and Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia has recorded nearly 11,000 business jet departures year-to-date, up 23% year-on-year, matching Brazil’s growth and exceeding the United States (5%), India (7%) and the UAE (12%). Aloula Aviation has completed more than 200 flights in 2025, mainly between Dammam and Riyadh.

The Saudi charter sector saw a 155% rise in flight hours from a fleet that has not grown, highlighting a supply gap that operators like Flexjet and VistaJet are helping to fill.

Other News
 
Strong showing from business jet flights beats this time last year
January 17, 2026
Business jet activity in the North American market expanded 11 per cent in Week 2 2026 year-over-year. On a US state level, Florida was the busiest, with flights up by 11 per cent. South America is performing well.
2025 was strongest ever year for global business jet activity
January 10, 2026
Flight activity rises 5% as December opens with strong corporate traffic
December 16, 2025
Week 49 and the four-week rolling average show increases, with Netflix and Baker Aviation adding momentum across US skies.
NetJets expands as global business jet flights accelerate
December 1, 2025
October was busiest ever month for business jet flights
November 10, 2025
Global departures rose by five per cent year-on-year in October 2025, while European and emerging markets outperformed North America during the same period.
Flight numbers tend to trend up across the board
October 11, 2025