Business Jet Activity Hits Record High During July 4 Weekend

Business jet activity in the US reached an all-time high during the July 4 holiday weekend, according to data from WingX Advance, a leading provider of market intelligence to the global business aviation industry.

The data revealed that business jet flights during the long weekend increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2022 and by 48% compared to 2019. While the total number of flights for the full week 26, ending on July 4, remained flat year on year, it was still 18% ahead of 2019.

The surge in business jet activity can be attributed to the cancellations and delays of thousands of flights by commercial airlines due to weather and staffing issues. Many travelers opted for private aviation as a more reliable and convenient alternative.

However, it’s important to note that not all regions and segments of the business aviation market experienced the same level of growth. Business jet activity in North America during the month of June was down 5% compared to the previous year, mainly due to a decline in flights from California and Texas. The turboprop sector also saw a 3% drop compared to June 2022, while the light jet segment remained stable.

On a global scale, the business jet and turboprop sectors saw a 3% dip in June compared to the previous year, but still remained 18% ahead of 2019. Europe witnessed a slight increase of 1% compared to June 2022, while Asia-Pacific and the Middle East experienced significant declines of 19% and 14% respectively.