March Business Aviation Flight Activity Down 32%, April Forecast Down 67%

ARGUS INTERNATIONAL INC. RELEASES MARCH BUSINESS AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY, AND APRIL FORECAST

AS COVID-19 CASES, AND ASSOCIATED STAY AT HOME ORDERS, INCREASE,
BUSINESS AVIATION SINKS. MARCH 2020 FLIGHT ACTIVITY INCLUDING CHARTER FALLS 31.7% FROM 2019 AS CRISIS WORSENS. ARGUS CEO NOTES “BUSINESS AVIATION’S AGILITY WILL BE CRUCIAL IN RECOVERY FROM HISTORIC DECLINES.”

MARCH FLIGHT ACTIVITY SUMMARY

As COVID-19 cases, and associated stay at home orders increase business aviation sinks.  March flight activity saw an overall 31.7% decrease in business aircraft activity data for March 1 – 31, 2020 vs. March 1 – 31, 2019 (YOY). 

The tables below reflect business aircraft activity data for March 1-31, 2020 vs. March 1-31 (y/y), 2019 and March 1-31, 2020 vs. February 1-29, 2020 (m/m) respectively.

The March ARGUS TRAQ Pak report is aircraft flight number, specific arrival, and departure information on all IFR flights including jet charter in the US, including Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Canada.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR FLIGHT ACTIVITY
ARGUS TRAQPak’s review of year over year flight activity (March 2020 vs. March 2019) indicates that March 2020 recorded a significant decline of 31.7%. The results by operational category were all red with Part 91 activity posting the largest yearly decrease, down 36.8% from 2019. Fractional activity saw 18 straight months of gains come to halt as the segment recorded an activity drop of 30.2%, while Part 135 flight activity recorded a decline of 25.0%. The aircraft categories were also red for the month, with large jets recording the largest yearly drop, down 37.6%. Mid-size jets and turboprops each recorded a decline of 31.8%, while light jets saw activity losses of 27.4% from March 2019.

Statistics - Business Aviation Flights March Comparison

MONTH-OVER-MONTH FLIGHT ACTIVITY
March business aviation and charter flight activity posted a substantial month over month decrease to finish down 22.4% from February 2020. Results by operational category were all negative for the month, with Part 91 flight activity posting the largest monthly decrease, down 26.3%.
Fractional activity followed with a decrease of 25.6%, while Part 135 activity slid 15.9%. The aircraft categories were also red for the month, with large jets posting the largest monthly decrease, down 31.9% from February. Mid-size jets followed with a decrease of 23.6%, while lights jets fell 19.7%. The turboprop market recorded a monthly decline of 18.1%.

Statistics - Business Aviation Flights Comparison

APRIL FORECAST

Initial predictions by ARGUS analysts for April shows that activity will drop 67.3%, from April 2019, due to the multiple shelter in place orders.


Source:  ARGUS International Inc. TRAQPak Aircraft Activity Report for March 2020 released 4/9/2020. FlightList PRO has no affiliation with ARGUS.

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