Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Global business aircraft flight activity last month rose 1.1% year over year (YOY), with North America and Europe seeing declines of 2.6% and 4.8%, respectively, while the rest of the world climbed by 10.6%, according to TraqPak data from Argus International. When corrected for the leap day last February, flying was up 4.7% globally last month, it added. Argus analysts are predicting a 0.6% YOY increase in North America and a 2.9% traffic decrease in Europe this month.
In North America, results by operational category were mostly positive last month, with fractional activity once again leading the way with 3.6% YOY gains. Part 135 flying inched up by 0.4%, marking the third consecutive month of increases, while Part 91 plunged 7.5%. But aircraft categories in the region were all negative versus last February: large-cabin jets, -4.4%; light jets, -4%; turboprops, -2.7%; and midsize jets, -0.5%. The largest and only double-digit increase in individual categories in North America was fractional large-cabin activity, which climbed 10.2% YOY.
According to Argus, European activity was “sluggish” last month, with aircraft categories in the red: turboprops, -7.3%; light jets, -5%; large-cabin jets, -3.9%; and midsize jets, -3.1%. But it was the complete opposite in the rest of the world: turboprops, +43.6%; midsize jets, +20.1%; light jets, +16.8%; and large-cabin jets, +7.5%.
“Overall demand continues to remain strong in North America. Activity was technically down in February, but it was up when adjusted for the extra day in 2024. Part 135 activity has now produced three straight monthly increases, and, while there is no guarantee of gains every single month, we still expect activity to be positive for that segment in 2025,” said Argus v-p of software Travis Kuhn. “Part 91 and large-cabin activity continue to be areas of focus as we see some continued softening in demand.”

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