The US BizAv (Business Aviation) market has been booming since March 2021. This series of articles track the traffic trend of this market. We define the BizAv market as part-135 on-demand for-hire private flying by business jets or certain turboprop planes. The numbers in the following charts exclude part-91 private flights. If you are interested in all flights by business jets, or detailed flights by route and operator, please get in touch with us.
Figure 1: Year over Year Trend of the U.S. BizAv Market
Figure 1 illustrates U.S. Business Aviation (BizAv) traffic trends from January 2020 to December 2024. While BizAv activities at the end of 2024 did not reach the peak levels observed in 2021, they remained higher than those recorded in the previous two years.
Figure 2: Comparison of the U.S. BizAv Flights This Month vs. Last Month
Figure 2 provides a comparative analysis of flight data for November and December 2024, highlighting a 5.8% increase in daily flight frequency. Additionally, a 6.5% rise in average flight hours per flight contributed to a 12.6% overall increase in total daily flight hours compared to November. The “Flights by Aircraft Category” chart reveals gains for Super Light Jets and larger aircraft, while Light Jets and smaller aircraft experienced a decline.
Figure 3: Comparison of the U.S. BizAv Flights by the Top 25 Origin States (This Month vs. Last Month)
In November and December 2024, Colorado (CO) experienced a significant 69.8% increase in business aviation activity, driven by its world-class ski destinations such as Aspen, Vail, and Telluride. While Florida (FL) saw a more modest growth rate of 19.3%, it accounted for a higher absolute number of business aviation flights due to its large base of activity.
Figure 4: Comparison of the U.S. BizAv Flights This Year vs. Last Year
In December 2024, flight activity saw significant growth, with the number of flights increasing by 9.2% and daily flight hours rising by 8.3% compared to December 2023. This growth was accompanied by a 0.9% decrease in average flight hours per flight. While Very Light Jet activity declined sharply by 23.9%, larger aircraft categories, ranging from Midsize Jets to Ultra Long Range Jets, recorded nearly 10% growth.
Figure 5: Comparison of the U.S. BizAv Flights by the Top 25 Origin States (This Year vs. Last Year)
Comparing flight data from December 2023 to December 2024, most states achieved growth rates of 5-15%. However, Nevada (NV) and Montana (MT) experienced a decline in flight activity.
In summary, the U.S. business aviation market concluded 2024 on a strong note, with daily flights increasing by 5.8% compared to the previous month and 9.2% year-over-year.