Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 57 seconds.
ARGUS TRAQPak data is serial-number specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the US (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada. The table below reflects business aircraft activity data for 2014 and 2013.
Business aviation flight activity soars in 2014
TRAQPak data indicates that 2014 flight activity posted its best year since 2008, up 2.0 per cent from 2013. Flight activity had a great start in the first half of 2014, with gains of 1.6 per cent, but an even stronger performance in second half of the year with a 2.4 per cent increase from July through December 2014. All four quarters in 2014 grew from their respective quarter in 2013, with Q4 leading the way, up 2.8 per cent from Q4 2013. Q1, Q2 and Q3 2014 finished up 1.1 per cent, 2.1 per cent and 2.0 per cent in that order from 2013.
Part 135 flight activity finished 2014 with another solid year of gains, up 3.9 per cent from 2013. The Part 135 sector saw an increase in flight activity for 11 of the 12 months in 2014 (over the previous year). The Fractional industry saw some positive signs in 2014 with a year-over-year increase in flight activity of 1.2 per cent. The first half of 2013 would have included Avantair; however Avantair ceased operations in June 2013. The Part 91 operators also saw growth in 2014, with a year- over-year increase of 1.1 per cent.
Aircraft category results indicated a strong market for all three jet categories, led by large cabin jets for the second year in a row. The large cabin jet segment posted gains across the board, finishing with a year-over-year increase of 6.2 per cent. Small and mid-size cabin aircraft posted gains for the year of 4.0 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively. The turboprop sector, affected by Avantair’s ceasing operations, finished the year down 1.5 per cent from 2013, however Q4 2014 flight activity was up 2.0 per cent for the turboprop market. The largest single year-over-year increase was recorded in the Fractional small cabin market with a rise of 23.6 per cent.
Q1 2015 Forecast
Looking ahead to 2015, TRAQPak analysts estimate that there will be a 2.1 per cent overall increase in flight activity for Q1 2015 (over 2014). It is estimated that the Part 135 segment will finish with the largest increase for the quarter, up 5.1 per cent from Q1 2014. The initial forecast for the Part 91 segment indicates a flight activity rise of 2.4 per cent in Q1 2015. The Fractional market also looks to be on the positive side of things with an estimated rise of 1.9 per cent for the quarter.
