Aviation News – Worldwide business aircraft activity rose by 1.7% last month compared to a year ago, according to the latest monthly report from industry data provider Argus International.
The company’s April TraqPak report noted that while North American flight activity declined by 1.1% year-over-year (YOY), that decrease was more than offset by European use, which posted a 3.9% boost following months of lackluster performance. Compared to March 2024, activity in Europe rose by 2.5% as well.
In North America, the fractional ownership industry was the only segment to post positive numbers, with a YOY increase of 7.5%. All fractional aircraft categories (with the exception of turboprops) saw improvement, led by the midsize cabin class, which was up nearly 15% compared to a year ago.
Outside the fractional segment, turboprops fared better as the only category in the Part 91 and Part 135 segments to demonstrate gains at 7.3% and 8.7%, respectively. In Europe however, the situation was reversed, with the turboprop category being the only one to experience a YOY decline, with usage down nearly 18% from April 2023. The leading category there was the large-cabin jets with a robust 23.8% improvement from a year ago.
For other regions, April proved a strong month, with a yearly increase in overall activity of more than 30%.
