Since November 2024 the week-on-week trends in bizjet activity have been consistently up, contrasting with sluggish negative trends through 2023 and 2024, but since Trump´s tariff policy started to rattle the markets, bizjet demand has noticeably fallen back. Both Europe and the Middle East saw significantly less activity in Week 10 year-on-year.
Global
In Week 10 there were 70,810 business jet departures recorded globally, a 2% drop compared to Week10 last year, the first week of this year to show a lower number of flights year on year. Aircraft flying commercially (Part 135 & 91K) saw flights drop 1% YOY. So far this month (1st – 9th March), bizjet departures have fallen 1% compared to last year, flight hours falling 2% compared to last year. The last four-week trend in worldwide flight activity is 2% ahead of last year, Part 135 & 91K departures 4% ahead of comparable last year. Year to date (1st January – 9th March 2025), business jet and turboprop departures and flight hours are 1% ahead of last year.
Chart 1: Global bizjet departures in 2025 vs previous years
North America
Across North America, business jet departures in Week 10 fell 1% compared last year, although Part 135 & 91K flights were up 2% compared to last year. Bizjet departures in California in Week 10 were flat Texas down 5%. Florida, with 8,378 bizjet departures this month, was up 1% YOY, and is easily the busiest US State, with 17% of all US departures this week. So far this year, Florida traffic is up 5%. Palm Beach (KPBI) which has Temporary Flight Restrictions in place when President Trump is in residence at Mar-A-Lago, is an exception to the Florida surge, its activity down by 31% in Week 10 compared to Week 10 last year.
Not only is the overall trend for bizjet travel in the US noticeably weaker so far this month (+1% growth compared to 4% growth since the US elections) but connections with Mexico and Canada are both down, respectively -6% and -4%, which may be an immediate reflection of the escalation in trade tariffs.
Chart 2: North American Business jet departures and flight hours by country, March 2025 vs last year.
The busiest operators in the US are mostly still up this month, notably NetJets and Flexjet, both operators seeing close to 200 hours per tail sign January through early March. Charter company Fly Exclusive is also up on flying hours. Wheels UP flight hours are well up, reflecting the acquisition of Grand View late last year. Despite sanctions concerns, Canada-based AirSprint is increasing hours and utilisation per aircraft.
Chart 3: North American Business jet flight hours & average hours per tail sign, by operator, 1st January – 9thMarch 2025.
European Region
In Week 10, European business jet activity fell 7% compared to Week 10 last year. There were significant declines in the UK and France, departures down 5% and 6% respectively, and a severe slump in bizjet demand Germany in Week 10, departures falling 19% compared to Week 10 last year, the last four-week trend now 10% behind comparable 2024. The only 4 countries to see year-to-date growth in activity are France, UK, Spain and notably Belgium, with departures up by 11% compared to last year Jan-Mar.
Despite the overall decline in activity in Europe this year, -1% through March so-far, two aircraft segments – Super Mid and Ultra Long Range – are flying more than last year from airports in Europe, flight hours respectively up by 3% and 5%.
Chart 4: Business jet departures by country, Europe, 1st January – 9th March 2025.
Rest of World
In Week 10, business jet departures outside of Europe and North America fell 7% below Week 10 last year. The biggest drop came in the Middle East, bizjet departures down by 24% compared to Week 10 last year. Departures in Africa were 9% ahead of last year, weighing against declines in Asia and South America, bizjet flights falling 3% and 4% respectively. The biggest three countries for bizjet activity outside North America and Europe – Mexico, Brazil, and India – are all well up so far this year. Bizjet activity out of UAE and Saudi is down by several points compared to last year.
Chart 5: Business jet departures by country outside of North America & Europe, 1st January – 9th March 2025.
