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.

Feb 2026 Departures 163,330 -19.33% MoM YTD Volume 365,800 77.35% of Global YoY Change -16.98% vs Feb 2025 Peak Month 2025 Oct: 236,924 2025 High North America Monthly Business Jet Departures Trend (Feb 2025 – Feb 2026) 240K 220K 200K 180K 160K FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN'26 FEB'26 196.7K 224.6K 219.7K 220.4K 211.1K 210.6K 214.0K 219.0K 236.9K 226.8K 221.9K 202.5K 163.3K

February Performance Analysis North America recorded 163,330 business jet departures in February 2026, a -19.33% sequential decline from January 2026's 202,470 flights. Year-over-year, the region contracted -16.98% against February 2025's 196,739 departures. This represents the most pronounced monthly decline in the 14-month tracking window, significantly exceeding typical seasonal patterns.

The region maintained its dominant 77.35% share of global departures, edging slightly higher from January's 76.41% as other regions experienced steeper proportional declines. North America's structural leadership reflects its mature FBO infrastructure and deeply embedded corporate aviation culture.

Seasonal Pattern Recognition The 13-month trend clearly illustrates North American seasonality: February typically represents a modest improvement over January, followed by March recovery. February 2026's sharp deviation from this pattern — declining rather than recovering — marks a notable departure from historical norms observed in the 2025 baseline.

Market Dynamics U.S. domestic operations bore the brunt of the February decline, with the daily average dropping to approximately 5,833 flights across 28 days. Southeast corridors (Florida, Texas) and West Coast routes experienced reduced activity levels compared to typical February patterns. Canadian and Mexican operations also contracted in line with the broader regional trend.

Charter and fractional operators reported weaker-than-expected February demand, contrasting with historical patterns where corporate travel typically resumes momentum through the month. Flight department budget reset dynamics and macroeconomic caution may have contributed to extended post-holiday demand softness.

March Outlook March projections anticipate significant sequential recovery toward 170,000-180,000 departures, consistent with historical March acceleration patterns. The region's structural fundamentals remain robust, supporting expectations of demand normalization through Q1 2026 as seasonal tailwinds strengthen.