✈️ U.S. Long-Range Business Aviation Surges Against the Trend as Global Market Divergence Accelerates
Avi-Go data shows that from March through May 24, 2026, intercontinental business jet departures with flight durations exceeding 5 hours have displayed a sharply polarized pattern. The United States recorded 14,498 departures, up 19.9% year-over-year, with growth accelerating month by month — March +10.6% year-over-year, April jumping to +25.0%, and May expanding further to +25.6% — fully reversing the cost pressures brought on by elevated fuel prices. China posted growth of 24.2% over the same period (463 departures rising to 575), Japan grew modestly by 8.3%, and Asia-Pacific demand remained broadly warm. In sharp contrast, Europe contracted across the board: United Kingdom -8.9%, France -13.0%, Italy -7.6%. Brazil saw the steepest decline, with departures plunging from 959 to 559, down 41.7% year-over-year. Notably, the UAE ranked third globally with 1,206 departures in the same period of 2025, but has since fallen out of the Top 10 in 2026 — a clear indication of the Strait of Hormuz situation's impact on Middle Eastern business aviation. The robust resilience of U.S. demand may be closely tied to the inelastic corporate travel requirements and the accelerating deliveries of ultra-long-range aircraft such as the G700 and Global 7500.
Impact: For ultra-long-range OEMs and their sales teams, the simultaneous expansion of North American and Asia-Pacific markets provides a clear order-support signal. European and Brazilian operators, meanwhile, face mounting pressure on fleet utilization, requiring a reassessment of both charter pricing and route structures.
Recommendation: Operators and Charter Brokers should prioritize securing summer slot resources on ultra-long-range North America-to-Asia-Pacific routes before June 2026, capitalizing on the accelerating demand window. For European and Brazilian markets, an immediate review of existing long-range fleet deployment strategies is advised, with consideration given to redirecting capacity toward transpacific routes where demand is stronger.