US bizjet demand continues to trend upwards, as it has done since the US elections in November. Leisure activity clearly spiked in the holiday season, with US-Caribbean flight hours up 25% YOY. In other markets, European activity has dipped in the last week, but is up over the last few weeks, bizjet activity from the Middle East is on the up, whereas trends in Africa and South America are down as we come into 2025. We would expect the positive business sentiment in the core US market to move global activity several points up in Q1 2025 compared to last year.
Global
In Week 1 of 2025 (30th December 2024 – 5th January 2025), 62,390 bizjet departures were recorded globally, 4% fewer than the same days across the end of 2023 and the start of 2024. Part 91K and 135 bizjet activity started the year well, departures up more than 10% in the first 5 days of January. In the last 4 weeks, global bizjet activity is 5% ahead of comparable last year, Part 91K and 135 performing even better in the last 4 weeks, departures 8% ahead of last year. Post-US election (Nov 6th 2024 – Jan 5th 2025), bizjet departures in the US are up 4% YOY, contrasting with 1.5% decline in the first 10 months of the year.
Chart 1: Global business jet departures by OEM, 1st – 5th January 2025
North America
In North America, bizjet activity dropped 2% in W1 2025 compared to W1 2024, although Part 91k and 135 activity was 7% ahead of W1 2024. Demand weakened in Texas, departures down by 13% compared to last year, activity in Florida grew 6%, California on par with last year. YOY trends on the week are also affected by the way the comparative days fall across the holiday period.
Focussing on the United States, bizjet activity this month is 1% ahead of last year, although flight hours are 6% ahead of last January. Domestic bizjet activity has fallen 1% compared to the start of last year, however, appetite for leisure destinations looks healthy post-Christmas and New Year celebrations. Bizjet flights from the US to Mexico are 12% ahead of January last year, connections to popular Caribbean islands Sint Maarten, Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico are well ahead of January last year. Fractional fleets serviced most of the activity between the US and Caribbean region so far this month, Branded Charter and Management fleets with strong year on year growth on these routes as well.
Chart 2: US – Caribbean bizjet activity, 1st – 5th January 2025 vs last year.
US-wide, Fractional operators continue their hot run of form at the start of the new year, at the start of January fractional fleets are flying 7% more average hours per aircraft compared to last year, the active bizjet fleet 11% greater than last year. Post holiday period, Corporate fleets in the US remain in the doldrums, activity down by over a quarter compared to last January, the active number of aircraft down by 19%.
Chart 3: US Fractional operators bizjet activity, 1st – 5th January 2025
Chart 4: Business jet departures by US State, November 6th 2024 – January 5th 2025.
Europe
In Europe, bizjet activity in W1 fell 8% compared to W1 2024, aircraft registered on a commercial AOC flew 6% fewer departures than W1 in 2024. Activity in the UK and Italy was on par with last year, contrast YOY large declines in bizjet flights from Germany and Switzerland. The Jan 1st-5th trends differ, with regional bizjet activity up 8% ahead of comparable January 2024, flight hours 15% ahead of last year. Germany was the only market in the top 5 to record a slower YOY first 5 days of January, the UK posting a 21% growth in departures compared to January 2024. Top market France saw 12% growth, Switzerland and Spain recorded single figure year on year growth.
International flights in Europe in the first 5 days are 11% ahead of January last year. The domestic market in the UK was especially strong, 34% more bizjet flights compared to last year, excluding intra-London flights, activity was focused on connecting London with the north of England, Scotland and the Channel Islands.
Rest of World
Outside of Europe and the United States, bizjet activity in W1 saw large declines compared to W1 in 2024, departures were down 12%, largest declines in Africa and South America where activity fell 22% and 19% respectively. In Asia, activity fared better, falling just 3% year on year, in the Middle East declines of 7% were recorded.
At the start of this month bizjet activity is 2% ahead of last year, 2nd busiest ROW market is the Bahamas, likely benefiting from leisure related travel over the post-Christmas and new year holiday period. In China the active bizjet fleet has fallen 8% compared to January last year, departures falling 7% compared to last year. Ultra long-range jets are flying the most in China this month, although departures behind last year, small bizjet segments are seeing growth compared to last year.