Doug Gollan
Florida private jet flight activity jumps 29% week-to-week ahead of Thanksgiving as global flight activity increases 8% week-to-week
After four weeks of declining numbers, global private jet flight activity in Week 46 saw a week-to-week 8% jump with 73,214 flights, still 3% below 2021, according to WingX data.
Over the past four weeks, private jet flights worldwide have been running 3% below last year.
U.S. private jet flight activity surges
The world’s biggest market, the U.S., increased 11% from last week, with 53,783 flights, 11% up week-to-week, and 2% behind 2021.
Florida (+29%) and California (+16%) saw significant week-to-week increases for the week ending Nov. 20, 2022. But even so, they were 4% and 6% under 2021 levels, respectively.
Moving across the pond, Europe continues to see red numbers. Its 9,256 flights marked a 5% week-to-week drop, 17% below 2021.
Asia, with small numbers – 2,659 private jet flights – nevertheless tallied an 18% week-to-week gain, 35% ahead of 2021.
Over the past month, Asia flying is 26% up on 2021.
Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2022 – Week 46
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.
Fractional and charter operators also turned positive, with a 9% increase week-to-week, accounting for 36,909 flights for the week, 10% down from 2021.
The U.S., helped by the beginning of Thanksgiving holiday traffic, saw 27,649 charter and fractional flights, up 13%.
It was still an 8% decline from last year’s record levels.
Florida private jet flights were up 30% for the week, even if they were still 9% lagging behind 2021, while Texas saw a 17% week-to-week gain.
Part 135/91K – Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2022 – Week 46
Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2022 – Week 46
Market Week 46 %Change vs. prior week %Change vs 2021 52- week high Week 52- week low Week Last 4 Weeks (Flights) %Change vs. 2021
Global 73,214 8% -3% 78,503 W25 2022 59,582 W02 2022 280,302 -3%
North America 58,599 11% -2% 62,573 W14 2022 46,660 W27 2022 221,126 -2%
USA 53,783 11% -2% 57,147 W14 2022 42,243 W27 2022 203,187 -2%
Florida 7,541 29% -4% 10,603 W8 2022 3,744 W39 2022 26,571 -7%
California 5,487 16% -6% 6,392 W7 2022 4,212 W27 2022 19,819 -7%
Texas 5,590 5% -3% 6,176 W10 2022 3,850 W27 2022 21,949 -3%
Europe 9,256 -5% -17% 17,608 W26 2022 7,591 W52 2021 39,181 -17%
UK 1,361 -5% -12% 2,336 W26 2022 894 W52 2021 5,739 -14%
Germany 1,350 -0.4% -13% 1,915 W26 2022 704 W52 2021 5,403 -10%
France 1,215 -9% -19% 3,032 W21 2022 1,052 W52 2021 5,281 -15%
Switzerland 610 -11% -14% 1,209 W21 2022 600 W44 2022 2,567 -20%
Italy 751 -13% -21% 2,357 W28 2022 456 W1 2022 3,497 -16%
Middle East 1,457 10% 16% 1,599 W34 2022 926 W4 2022 5,758 7%
Africa 789 -2% 9% 876 W19 2022 508 W52 2021 3,164 15%
Asia 2,659 18% 35% 2,659 W46 2022 1,589 W52 2021 9,505 26%
South America 1,254 -6% 12% 1,437 W50 2021 848 W52 2021 4,922 9%
Market (Part 91K & Part135) Week 46 % Change vs prior wk % Change vs 2021 Last 52 week high Week Last 52 week low Week Last 4 Weeks (Flights) % Change vs. 2021
Global 36,909 9% -10% 41,811 W8 2022 31,911 W2 2022 142,459 -11%
North America 29,273 12% -8% 32,702 W8 2022 22,967 W35 2022 110,136 -8%
USA 27,649 13% -8% 30,705 W8 2022 21,948 W35 2022 104,194 -9%
Florida 4,277 30% -9% 6,327 W52 2021 2,024 W39 2022 15,133 -13%
California 3,418 17% -11% 4,095 W7 2022 2,638 W27 2022 12,373 -11%
Texas 2,374 3% -11% 2,734 W10 2022 1,644 W27 2022 9,214 -10%
Europe 6,583 -4% -21% 12,962 W27 2022 6,186 W52 2021 28,150 -21%
UK 961 -3% -17% 1,772 W26 2022 748 W51 2021 4,068 -20%
Germany 932 -1% -15% 1,295 W25 2022 572 W52 2021 3,781 -13%
France 871 -7% -21% 2,401 W21 2022 795 W2 2022 3,757 -19%
Switzerland 442 -8% -23% 868 W21 2022 442 W46 2022 1,882 -26%
Italy 582 -11% -26% 1,855 W28 2022 376 W1 2022 2,683 -20%
Middle East 790 9% 15% 927 W43 2022 481 W4 2022 3,227 3.5%
Africa 256 -18% 2% 321 W13 2022 160 W35 2022 1,147 6%
Asia 720 13% 34% 730 W43 2022 365 W4 2022 2,678 19%
South America 58 -30% 9% 71 W48 2021 13 W24 2022 270 65%
Source: WingX for Private Jet Card Comparisons. Includes Jets and VIP Airliners.
Europe’s charter and fractional operators continued declines, with flights down 4% from the previous week and 21% under 2021.
Asia’s 720 fractional and private jet flights popped 13% for the week, putting them 34% ahead of 2021 for the same period.
The year in review
Despite the positive weekly report, WingX’s Richard Koe says, “We have seen almost six consecutive months of falling bizjet flight activity in 2022 compared to 2021, taking demand well off the peaks of the C***d rebound, although the market still has a substantial gain versus pre-c***d 2019.”
He adds, Directionally, Europe is seeing weakest trends, with the U.S. steady although charter demand is ebbing, while the Middle East and Asia still have strong growth compared to 2021.”
Looking at the whole year, Koe notes, “So far this year (through Nov. 20), global business jet and turboprop activity, measured in sectors flown, is 12% ahead of last year, 14% ahead of 2019.”
Meanwhile, dedicated freight activity is ahead of three years ago, with flights up 5%, although 3% below last year.
Scheduled airline activity continues to lag pre-p******c, with flights 25% fewer compared to three years ago, even if 23% ahead of last year.
Focussing on the busiest global airlines (American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Ryanair), this year’s activity is 35% ahead of 2021 and still 4% below 2019.