WINGX Global Market Tracker:

Bizjet jet flights up 4% in Week 11 vs last year, and up 29% compared to same week in 2020

Five years ago this week saw the onset of lockdowns due to Coronavirus, which resulted in the grounding of almost all aircraft operations over the following month.

In Week 11 2020 there were 56,815 business jet sectors flown globally, an increase of 2% compared to the previous year, according to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today.

This year, Week 11 (10th-16th March), global business jet departures grew 4% compared to Week 11 in 2024, matching the last 4-week trend.

Bizjet aircraft flying commercially (Part 135 & 91K) recorded a 5% increase in departures compared to Week 11 last year, again matching the last 4-week trend. So far in March, 163,699 bizjet departures have been recorded, up 2% compared to last year. Year to date (1st January - 16th March 2025), business jet and turboprop departures and flight hours are 2% ahead of last year.

Global bizjet departures by week, highlighting drop in 2020 due to Coronavirus lockdowns.

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North America

In Week 11, business jet departures from the US were 5% ahead of Week 11 in 2024, activity in Florida on par with W11 2024, California down 2%. Activity in Texas streaked ahead, departures up 17% compared to Week 11 in 2024. Activity in Texas was likely inflated due to the hosting of CERAWeek in Houston, an annual major energy conference. Outbound departures from Houston airports in Week 11 was up 24% compared to Week 11 last year.

As we reach the mid-point of March, US bizjet travel trends have stabilised, returning to match the +3% year to date trend (1st Jan-16th March), only slightly below the post- US election trend of +4%.

Connections from the US to Mexico are down 2% compared to March last year, connections to Canada are on par with last year. Trans-Atlantic activity has received a boost this month, flights from the US to Europe are 8% ahead of last year. A third of US to Europe traffic is to the United Kingdom, flights to Spain are up by 64% compared to March last year. Flights to Barcelona in Spain are up by over 100% compared to last March, possibly the WWE Smackdown wrestling event held in Barcelona on March 14th was a draw.

United States Bizjet country flows, March 1st - 16th 2025.

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European Region

In Week 11 (10th-16th March), European bizjet activity fell 4% compared to Week 11 in 2024, 8,887 bizjet departures recorded 6,300 fewer departures than the last 52 week high of W26 last year.

Aircraft flying commercially (Part 135/91k) fared better, departures fell just 2% compared to W11 in 2024. Switzerland and Italy recorded 10% and 9% declines in activity, UK less muted with 4% declines.

At the mid-point in March, European bizjet activity is subdued, largely dragged down by negative trends in Germany. In Germany, activity was 16% behind last year, departures are down 9% since January 1st, entry level jets with the furthest year on year declines in departures.

Across the weekend prior to St Patrick’s Day (Friday 14th - Sunday 16th March), 57 bizjet arrivals were recorded into Irish airports, up by 14% compared to the previous weekend, down by 7% compared to the 2024 event which fell on a Sunday. Year to date, bizjet departures from Ireland are 11% ahead of last year, 12% ahead of March last year.

Business jet departures by operator type, Ireland 1st - 16th March 2025.

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Rest of the World

In Week 11, bizjet activity outside out North America and Europe was up 13% compared to W11 in 2024. Large increases (+21%) in Africa and the Middle East. Departures were up 19% in Africa, Asia the outlier with activity just on par with last year. Notable rises on bizjet flights between Riyadh - Jeddah and Dubai - Jeddah in Week 11.

In Australia, Lando Norris took the win at the Australian F1 Grand Prix over the weekend, Melbourne serving as host to the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Airports in Melbourne (YMEN, YMML, YMMB, YMAV) recorded 30 bizjet arrivals during the race weekend (14th - 16th March), equalling almost the same number of arrivals as recorded at the same Grand Prix weekend in 2024.

Business jet arrivals into Melbourne airports (YMEN, YMML, YMMB, YMAV), highlighting “spike” around F1 Grand Prix event.

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Managing Director Richard Koe comments: “Global business jet activity rebounded after last week’s relapse, with flight demand in the US belying broader economic concerns, bizjet departures up almost 20% in Texas compared to last year.

"This week’s bizjet activity is up by 28% in the US and 3% in Europe compared to the same week in 2020 when lockdowns started to be imposed.”

WINGX GmbH
Lilienstraße 11
20095 Hamburg
Germany.

+49 40 23 96 85 05

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 20th March 2025 | Issue #788

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