Business aircraft flying in the U.S., Caribbean and Canada last month jumped 4.6 percent year-over-year, according to TraqPak data released today by business aviation services group Argus International. This surpassed the company’s prediction of a 2.5-percent increase in September and its analysts remain optimistic about this month, estimating a 4.1-percent rise in activity.
All operational categories saw gains last month, though Part 135 flying was the clear leader with a 7.5-percent lift in activity compared with September 2015. The fractional segment climbed 5.5 percent from a year ago, while Part 91 operators logged a 2.6-percent increase.
For the second consecutive month, all aircraft categories had positive momentum. Once again, large-cabin jets were at the front of the pack last month, soaring 9.6 percent year-over-year. This was followed by a 4.7-percent surge in midsize jet activity, a 3.5-percent rise in turboprop flying and 3.4-percent uptick in the light jet category.
Fractional turboprops and large-cabin jet activity again realized double-digit gains, rising 22.5 percent and 21.3 percent, respectively. Charter large-cabin jets also climbed 16.5 percent. For the second month in a row, fractional light jet flying sputtered out, falling 2 percent and logging the only loss in an individual category.
Argus TraqPak data provides “flight-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.”