Monthly Flight Patterns

02. Monthly Flight Patterns Comparative Analysis: 2025 vs 2026 (Jan-May Actuals) Note: Flight counts based on departure statistics. YoY growth shown for completed months Jan-May 2026. Global Monthly Business Jet Departures & Year-over-Year Growth

180K 200K 220K 240K 260K 280K 300K 320K 340K 360K 380K -15% 0% +15% +30% 2025 Departures 2026 Actual Departures Actual YoY Growth % (Jan-May) Total Volume: May 2026 recorded 374,254 global business jet departures, a +26.68% YoY increase over May 2025's 295,444 flights. Building on April's 287,021, May surged to a new annual high — the strongest single month in the trailing twelve. With Jan-May 2026 cumulative volume at 1,506,152 flights versus Jan-May 2025's 1,375,688, the year-to-date trajectory stands firmly positive at +9.48% YoY .

Monthly Performance: May recorded 374,254 departures, a +30.39% sequential increase from April's 287,021 flights. The daily average of 12,073 flights across 31 operational days sits well above the 2025 monthly average of roughly 9,800 daily flights and eclipses March's prior 2026 peak of 11,812 daily flights.

Growth Dynamics: The +26.68% YoY expansion accelerates sharply from April's +0.83%, confirming a broad-based demand surge rather than a one-month calendar effect. With May 2026 containing 31 days versus May 2025's 31 days, calendar effects are neutral — the gain reflects genuine volume growth across all three regions, led by Europe's +68% MoM rebound.

Market Context: With Jan-May 2026 actuals now complete, the 5-month cumulative volume of 1,506,152 flights tracks +9.48% above the equivalent 2025 period (1,375,688 flights). Q1 2026 alone reached 844,877 flights versus Q1 2025's 795,590 (+6.19% YoY), and the April-May rebound has widened the YTD lead, signaling robust momentum heading into Q2.

Seasonal Patterns: The 2025 baseline shows steady volumes from June through October (296K-312K range), with October 2025 peaking at 311,816 departures. May's +26.68% YoY is the fourth positive monthly print of 2026 (after January, March and April), with only February negative. June 2025's 296,041 baseline sets the next YoY benchmark, where sustained summer demand would extend the positive YTD trajectory.