Part 135 and 91K flights out of Texas and Florida were up more than 10% in the latest week and are trending up 5% in August, contrast the 1% decline in bizjet activity in the US, 8 months into 2024. The late summer surge in the US compares to a post-Olympics slowdown in Europe, although Nice is still seeing strong growth, and there are record breaking levels of flight activity at Tivat in Montenegro.
Global
In Week 34 (19th – 25th August), there were 70,242 business jet sectors flown globally, 1% more than Week 34 in 2023. Week 34 was stronger than the last four-week YOY trend, which is 1% down, as is the year-to-date trend after almost 8 months. Part 135 & 91K bizjet activity saw a 4% lift compared to last year, with the last four-week trend 1% ahead of last year. Just under a quarter of bizjet flights in week 34 were flown by aircraft management fleets, fractional operators flew just over 13,000 sectors, 19% of all bizjet flights in week 34.
North America
In Week 34, there were 48,898 bizjet departures departing North American airports, 4% ahead of W34 in 2023. The dominant US market accounted for 46,947 North American departures, responsible for the region wide 4% year on year uplift. Across the busiest US States, Florida saw a 2% uplift compared to W34 in 2023, California and Texas both saw a 9% year on year increase. Almost 13,000 bizjet departures departed across the 3 States, accounting for roughly 28% of all US W34 departures.
Despite the W34 uplift, US bizjet departures this month are 2% behind last year, still 24% ahead of 2019. California was busiest US State, with this week seeing a 9% bump YOY. Flights from San Diego to Los Angeles are up by 25% so far this month. Fractional fleets account for over a quarter of California bizjet departures, contrast Branded Charter departures which have fallen 15% behind August 5 years ago. It was reported this week that Pilatus are set to open a new sales and service centre in Florida. So far this month, Pilatus aircraft account for 7% of all bizjets and turboprop departures out of Florida State. Both the PC-12 and PC-24 types are flying more than any August in the last 5 years, the PC-12 representing 90% of Pilatus activity out of Florida this month. In the Super Light Jet category, the PC-24 represents 9% of departures out of Florida this month, the Cessna Citation Excel dominates this segment in the State with a 72% market share.
Chart 1: US Bizjet city flows, departures out of California State, departing 1st – 25th August 2024 vs previous years.
European Region
In Week 34 European bizjet activity dropped 3% compared to same week last year. The four-week trend in Europe has now dropped to +2% compared to last year, demand normalising after the Olympics-related surge. August’s trends match the last 4- week trend, Olympics hosts France the top market, 7% year-on-year, growth. The UEFA EUROS uplift enjoyed in Germany was short lived, bizjet activity this month in decline compared to the last 5 years. The top 3 markets, France, Italy and the United Kingdom account for a 43% market share of all bizjet departures this month.
Nice (LFMN) is the busiest bizjet departure airport this August, activity on par with last year, 5% ahead of 2019. Le Bourget (LFPB) has seen just over 1,500 departures this month, a 34% jump compared to last year, appetite for the Olympic Games driving activity there. Post Olympics the European summer appears to be a mixed bag of activity. Olbia for example, seeing the highest levels of bizjet arrivals in the last 5 years, contrast Naples, where bizjet arrivals are half what they were. Santorini and Mikonos have seen a large drop in bizjet arrivals compared to 5 years ago, departures to these airports from Athens (LGAV) have dropped by over 70% compared to August 2019.
Chart 2: Business Jet arrivals into select summer destinations, 1st – 25th August 2024.
Europe wide, light jets are responsible for almost a quarter of bizjet activity this month. Super Midsize and Ultra-long-range jets are busier than any August in the last 5 years. Super Midsize activity on domestic Italian routes is running hot, busiest country international connection this month is France – United Kingdom.
Chart 3: European Bizjet departures by operator type, 1st – 25th August 2024.
Rest of World
Outside of the US and Europe, the rest of the world saw a decline of 0.3% Week 34, with 11% growth in bizjet departures in Asia offset by steep drops in activity out of the Middle East and Africa. So far this month activity in the Middle East has dropped 6% compared to last year, Branded Charter sectors within the region dropping by almost a quarter compared to last year. Domestic bizjet activity in Saudi Arabia has more than halved compared to last year, contrast DUAE domestic activity 31% ahead of last year. In Africa this month the decline appears to be coming from South Africa and Nigeria, bizjet departures down 22% and 69% YOY respectively.
Chart 4: Ultra long-range business jet departures by countries outside of United States and Europe.
