Worldwide business jet sectors in week seven of 2023, 13th-19th February, amounted to 71,097 sectors, a six per cent increase compared to week six 2023 and a four per cent decrease compared to the same dates in 2022. The global trend for the last four weeks is two per cent below the comparable period last year. Global Part135 and Part 91K business jet activity in week seven was 12 per cent below the same dates last year. Combined business jet and turboprop activity between 1st and 20th February was one per cent below last year, but 12 per cent ahead of February 2019. Scheduled airline sectors are 25 per cent ahead of February last year, but still 16 per cent behind a pre-pandemic 2019. Focusing on the top five busiest airlines, namely Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United and Ryanair, sectors so far this month are up 15 per cent compared to last year and are six per cent ahead of 2019.

According to WingX's weekly Global Market Tracker, in week seven, 55,678 business jet sectors were flown in North America, a seven per cent increase compared to week six and a six per cent decrease compared to the same dates in 2022. In the last four weeks activity is three per cent down compared to the same dates last year.

150,000 business jet sectors have flown out of airports in North America in February 2023 so far, which is three per cent behind the same 20-day period in February 2022 and 11 per cent ahead of 2019. Year to date 370,000 business jet sectors have been flown, just one per cent behind comparable 2022 and 13 per cent ahead of 2019. So far this month 89 per cent of business jet activity has comprised domestic flights, although sectors are down four per cent compared to February last year but up 13 per cent compared to 2019. International sectors are up by four per cent compared to last year and are three per cent ahead of 2019.

So far this month business jet activity in the United States is trailing last year by four per cent, although it is still 15 per cent ahead of pre-pandemic February 2019. Major business jet hotspots are down compared to last year; departures from Teterboro are down three per cent, Palm Beach is down six per cent and Van Nuys down five per cent, while Las Vegas McCarran bucks the trend with departures up two per cent compared to last year. Florida is the busiest state so far this month, although departures are down nine per cent compared to last February. California is 10 per cent behind last year and Texas eight per cent behind.

This President's Day holiday weekend (Friday 17th to Monday 20th) saw just over 29,000 business jet departures from United States airports, 10 per cent fewer than the Friday to Monday holiday period last year, although 23v per cent more than in 2019. Palm Beach was the busiest departure point this year, followed by Teterboro. Private flight departments were the busiest operator types this holiday, and Friday was the busiest departure day.

In Europe, 10,126 business jet sectors were flown in week seven, which is four per cent higher than week six but a one per cent decrease compared to the same dates in 2022. In the last four weeks activity is five per cent below the same dates last year. So far this month business jet activity has dropped by seven per cent compared to last year, although it is still 10 per cent ahead of a pre-pandemic 2019. Exclude Russia and the trends look more favourable, with sectors down just four per cent compared to last February and 14 per cent ahead of 2019. The year-to-date trend for Europe including Russia is down seven per cent compared to last year, but seven per cent ahead of 2019.

Year to date business jet departures from Russia are down 70 per cent compared to the same period last year and 62 per cent below comparable 2019. International business jet flights are down by 86 per cent compared to last year and 82 per cent compared to 2019.

Business jet and ‘other’ aircraft activity in Turkey remains high due to humanitarian efforts following the Turkey-Syria earthquake. Business jet activity is 81 per cent higher than February last year and 127 per cent higher than 2019. Ataturk International in Istanbul is the busiest business jet departure point this month, with activity up 28 per cent compared to last year and showing triple digit growth compared to 2019. Elsewhere there is triple digit growth compared to last year at Istanbul, Esenboğa International, Adana and Gaziantep International airports.

In week seven, 13th February through 19th February, activity in Africa was 19 per cent ahead of the same dates last year, 20 per cent ahead in Asia, up 32 per cent in the Middle East and up 19 per cent in South America. The top three ROW countries so far this month are Brazil, India and Australia. Al Maktoum in Dubai is the busiest airport the ROW region, although its sectors are down five per cent compared to last year but still show triple digit growth compared to 2019. Congonhas in Sao Paulo is down one per cent compared last year, but up 94 per cent compared to 2019.

Business jet sectors in China this month are seven per cent above last year, although six per cent below 2019. Year to date business jet sectors from China are up 22 per cent compared to last year and four per cent above 2019. Year to date almost half of business jet flights from China are between 1.5 to three hours in length; flights of this duration are up 14 per cent compared to last year and up six per cent on 2019. Long haul and ultra long business jet flights are still way behind 2019 levels; year to date flights between six to 12 hours in duration are down 54 per cent compared to 2019, while flights in excess of 12 hours are down 71 per cent compared to 2019.

WingX MD Richard Koe comments: “The downwards slide in business jet activity is apparent in the US as well as Europe, notably in the charter market. On the anniversary of the start of the Ukraine war, the loss of the Russian business jet market is apparent, with the biggest impact on the heavy jet charter market. There are growth areas outside Europe and the US, notably in the Middle East and Asia.”