Bizav Activity Back To 85% Of Normal Levels, WingX Says

Challenger 650
Credit: Bombardier

Recovery in business aviation activity is being led by the U.S., with the country’s business jet and turboprop activity during the two weeks leading up to July 9 at 85% of the normal levels for the period, according to data from WingX. 

California has returned to being the most active state, with about 10,000 flight departures in the two weeks ending July 9. Florida has sustained its year-over-year growth trends from June. Flights in Colorado, Montana and Arizona have experienced 5% growth during the two-week period, according to WingX.

The East Coast continues to have the biggest declines in activity, with flights from New York State down 23% from the same time a year ago and flights from New Jersey declining more than 40% for the 14-day period. 

Global recovery has also been encouraging, WingX said, with Europe up to 77% of normal activity. Oceania and South America have stabilized at about 93% of their usual activity. Asia remains 27% below normal and recovery in Africa has been “fairly slow,” trailing by 31%. 

Aircraft management companies are driving the recovery so far, with activity above 90% of normal. Branded charter operators have recovered to 80% of normal, while private and corporate flight departments are lagging, with activity down nearly 30%, it said. 

By category, very light jet and entry-level jet activity worldwide is within 10% of normal activity. Super light and super midsize jet traffic is down 15% in the past two weeks. Heavy jet activity has fallen about 30%, while activity by ultra long-range jets is 40% lower. Meanwhile, turboprop activity remains 20% lower.
 

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 25-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.