The global resurgence in business aviation continued in July, with the month seeing 13 percent more flights by business jets and turboprops than in July 2019, according to data released today by WingX Advance. The Hamburg, Germany-based company noted that through the first seven months of 2021, aggregate business aircraft activity is once again comparable to 2019 levels, the last normal year before the global pandemic.
Over the past three months, the small and midsize business jet segments have seen strong usage with more than 400,000 flights globally, 14 percent more than in the same period of 2019.
In North America, business aviation activity last month increased by 12 percent over July 2019 and was 46 percent more than a year earlier. U.S. business jet flights were up 25 percent compared to 2019 numbers, with light and super-midsize jet activity up 26 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Ultra-long-range jets, which were largely idled by the pandemic, bounced back in July, increasing by 23 percent over 2019. The only segments lagging in comparison between the years were turboprops and bizliners.
Europe saw a significant rise in business aviation activity last month, with a 14 percent boost in activity compared to July 2019, led by the light jet segment, which for the month exceeded 2019 levels by 30 percent. Leisure travel is in strong demand with vacation destinations such as Ibiza, Mallorca, and Olbia all registering in the top 10 busiest locations.
In the rest of the world, travel restrictions are still hampering international activity, but in places such as Australia, Africa, China, the Middle East, and South America, domestic and/or local traffic is near or above 2019 levels.
“The jury is in regarding the likelihood of a repeat of last year´s strong rebound in leisure travel demand as restrictions ended: these have materialized in full, well above even pre-pandemic summertime highs in business jet demand,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “Barring the unlikely renewal of lockdown, the upswing should continue over the next six weeks, with the next question turning to the potential return of the corporate customers.”
