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.

Mar 2026 Departures 273,674 +67.06% MoM YTD Volume 639,624 75.89% of Global YoY Change +22.02% vs Mar 2025 Peak Month 2025 Oct: 236,540 2025 High North America Monthly Business Jet Departures Trend (Mar 2025 – Mar 2026) 160K 195K 230K 265K 300K MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN'26 FEB'26 MAR'26 224.3K 219.3K 220.1K 210.8K 210.2K 213.7K 218.6K 236.5K 226.3K 221.5K 202.1K 163.8K 273.7K

March Performance Analysis North America recorded 273,674 business jet departures in March 2026, a remarkable +67.06% sequential surge from February 2026's 163,814 flights. Year-over-year, the region expanded +22.02% against March 2025's 224,285 departures. This represents the strongest monthly rebound in the 15-month tracking window, confirming the seasonal recovery pattern.

The region maintained its dominant 75.89% share of global departures. North America's structural leadership reflects its mature FBO infrastructure and deeply embedded corporate aviation culture, with the March rebound demonstrating the sector's resilience and rapid demand recovery capability.

Seasonal Pattern Recognition The 13-month trend clearly illustrates North American seasonality: February typically represents a modest improvement over January, followed by March recovery. March 2026 confirms this seasonal pattern with a powerful +67.06% rebound from February's trough, aligning with historical norms observed in the 2025 baseline.

Market Dynamics U.S. domestic operations led the March recovery, with the daily average rising to approximately 8,828 flights across 31 days. Southeast corridors (Florida, Texas) and West Coast routes experienced elevated activity as spring travel demand surged. Canadian operations expanded sharply with +104.35% MoM growth, while Mexican activity also recovered strongly.

Charter and fractional operators reported strong March booking volumes, consistent with the seasonal rebound as corporate travel calendars fully resumed. The breadth of the recovery across operator segments and aircraft types indicates fundamental demand strengthening rather than a narrow concentration of activity.

April Outlook April projections anticipate sustained strength at approximately 210,000-220,000 departures, consistent with historical April patterns. The region's structural fundamentals remain robust, and March's strong performance supports expectations of continued above-trend activity through Q2 2026 as seasonal demand deepens.