North America Monthly Flight Activity

03. North America Monthly Flight Activity Regional Flight Activity Analysis | Departure-Based Statistics Note: Flight counts based on departure location. North America includes United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America.

Jan 2026 Departures 201,356 -9.37% MoM YTD Volume 201,356 76.4% of Global Monthly Average 201,356 Peak Month 2025 Oct: 237,004 2025 High North America Monthly Business Jet Departures Trend (Jan 2025 – Jan 2026) 245K 230K 215K 200K 185K JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN'26 y = 124.87 --> y = 142.23 --> y = 76.90 --> y = 88.58 --> y = 86.80 --> y = 108.61 --> y = 109.91 --> y = 101.82 --> y = 90.35 --> y = 48.66 --> y = 72.10 --> y = 83.31 --> y = 131.84 --> 204.3K 196.9K 224.9K 219.9K 220.7K 211.3K 210.8K 214.2K 219.1K 237.0K 227.0K 222.2K 201.4K

January Performance Analysis North America recorded 201,356 business jet departures in January 2026, a -9.37% sequential decline from December 2025's 222,154 flights. This contraction follows the well-established seasonal pattern where January represents the year's weakest month due to post-holiday corporate travel lull and winter weather disruptions across northern U.S. and Canadian corridors.

The region maintained its dominant 76.4% share of global departures. North America's structural leadership reflects its mature FBO infrastructure, favorable regulatory environment, and deeply embedded corporate aviation culture.

Seasonal Pattern Recognition The 13-month trend clearly illustrates North American seasonality: January-February represent the annual trough, followed by March recovery and steady expansion through October's peak. The pattern from Jan 2025 through Jan 2026 shows remarkable consistency with historical norms.

Market Dynamics U.S. domestic operations dominated January activity, with Southeast corridors (Florida, Texas) showing relative strength from winter repositioning. Northeast and Midwest operations faced typical winter weather constraints reducing scheduled departures. Canadian operations experienced seasonal compression aligned with reduced business activity.

Charter and fractional operators reported gradual demand recovery through the second half of January as corporate calendars resumed. Corporate flight departments indicated stable utilization plans with expectations of meaningful improvement beginning mid-February.

February Outlook February projections anticipate modest improvement to approximately 197,000-200,000 departures, with corporate travel resuming and weather constraints gradually easing. The region's structural fundamentals remain robust, supporting expectations of continued growth through Q1 2026.