Argus International’s TraqPak data showed North American business aviation activity rose 0.3% year over year in August, with fractional operators driving the gain as softer traditional flying offset the increase. Europe posted its second consecutive monthly decline in the same report, underscoring a widening regional split in business aviation demand.
Fractional flying increased 7.9% in North America and remained the main growth engine for the market, including a 14.9% rise in large-cabin jet fractional activity. That strength helped balance a 2.9% fall in Part 91 flying and flat Part 135 demand. Global flight activity increased 0.6% year over year, but Europe fell 1% as large-cabin jets and light jets weakened.
The August figures suggest operator mix is becoming more important in reading the health of the market, as fractional growth can conceal softer underlying demand in other categories. TraqPak analysts projected North American activity would edge down 0.1% year over year in the following month, while Europe was expected to slip 0.4%.