Business jet flights worldwide hit all-time record highs 

The secret is out: more people are flying private, and they’re doing it in record numbers. According to the latest tracking data, global business jet activity is climbing to unprecedented levels, fueled by corporate demand, fractional programs, and private travelers.

WingX, a data analytics company that specializes in tracking and analyzing business aviation activity worldwide, reports that business jets logged more than 232,000 flights this month through September 25, an 11% increase compared to the same timeframe last year.   That figure already makes this September one of the busiest months ever, with the final tally expected to climb higher once all monthly activity is in. It follows a record August, when WingX tracked 327,745 departures, the highest figure ever for that month. Through the first eight months of 2025, operators recorded about 3.9 million flights, up 2.7% from the year before. 

Fractional ownership programs such as those operated by US providers NetJets and Flexjet were key drivers of the surge, analysts said. Corporate travel has also returned in force, with demand visible across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The US remains the largest market for business aviation, but growth in Europe has contributed to the global rise in private aircraft use as well. 

The numbers build on a strong year for the industry overall. Business jet deliveries are projected to rise in 2025, with forecasts suggesting an 8% to 11% increase over 2024. Order backlogs remain high, while tight supply in the used aircraft market has supported higher pricing to the benefit of sellers. 

While today’s activity is notable on its own, the record numbers are further underscored when compared with previous periods in business aviation’s history. 

In the early 2000s, the collapse of the dot-com bubble forced many companies to scale back their use of private aircraft. Data was not tracked as closely as it is today, but industry reports from the period point to sharp cutbacks at corporate flight departments and slower growth for fractional programs. The industry eventually recovered, but the setback pointed to how sensitive the sector could be to changes in the broader economy. 

The 2008-2009 financial crisis brought another sharp contraction. As global markets faltered, corporations reduced discretionary spending, and the use of business jets dropped significantly. Fractional ownership programs at that time paused growth plans, and aircraft manufacturers endured years of weaker demand before a recovery took hold. 

The COVID-19 pandemic initially hit even harder. In April 2020, global business jet flights fell nearly 80% below the same period in 2019. For a time, private jets sat mostly idle as travel restrictions and health concerns froze activity. But unlike previous downturns, the recovery that followed was swift and sharp. Private aviation rebounded as travelers sought alternatives to crowded airports and commercial airlines, and by 2021 activity had already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. 

Today, the industry appears to be operating at a higher baseline than in past cycles. Global flight counts remain more than 10% above pre-COVID levels, with growth driven by corporations, wealthy individuals, and share programs. Tight aircraft supply has supported high utilization, while private flying as a whole is becoming more accessible. 

Nothing lasts forever, of course, and the next global downturn could reshape the private jet industry yet again. Still, the comparison across decades shows a clear trajectory: after the dot-com collapse and the financial crisis, recovery was gradual; after COVID, the rebound was steep and sustained. With strong backlogs, rising deliveries, and steady demand for private travel, business jet activity in 2025 appears to be establishing a new baseline for growth.

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