Global Business Aviation Report — February 2026
February 2026 recorded 211,153 global business jet departures, a significant -16.51% year-over-year decline from February 2025's 252,909 flights and a -19.89% month-over-month contraction from January 2026. The decline was substantially steeper than January's near-flat YoY performance, compounded by February's shorter 28-day calendar, continued post-holiday demand softening, and tough comparisons against 2025's strong baseline. Q1 2026 cumulative volume through February stands at approximately 476,000 flights, trailing Q1 2025's pace by -7.5%. North America maintained dominant market share at 77.35%, while Europe proved most resilient with only -8.84% YoY decline. The Rest of World region contracted sharply at -22.24% YoY, reflecting post-holiday normalization in key emerging markets.
February's pronounced decline follows the typical seasonal trough pattern, amplified this year by calendar effects — February 2026 had 28 days versus 28 in February 2025, but the year-over-year comparison reflects broader market softening after 2025's strong expansion cycle. Historical patterns suggest a March recovery as corporate travel accelerates into spring, with 2025's March baseline of 289,430 flights providing a more favorable comparison window. The industry averaged approximately 7,541 flights per day in February, down from 8,503 in January and well below 2025's full-year daily average of approximately 9,133. The structural shift toward longer-range missions continued, with long-haul flights showing the smallest YoY decline at just -0.13%.
Market Overview
February 2026 — Global Business Aviation
Regional Deep Dive
North America · Europe · Rest of World
North America
North America recorded 163,330 business jet departures in February 2026, a -18.88% sequential decline from January's 201,356 flights and -16.98% year-over-year. The region's market share edged up to 77.35%, reflecting its relative stability compared to steeper international declines. February is historically the weakest month of the year for North American business aviation, combining the shortest calendar with post-holiday corporate travel lull and persistent winter weather disruptions. Sun Belt airports showed relative strength: Van Nuys (KVNY) surged 31.96% month-over-month as Los Angeles attracted winter business and entertainment activity, while Washington Dulles (KIAD) proved resilient at just -1.44% MoM. The Challenger 300 Series overtook the Phenom 300 as the region's most-flown aircraft, with 14,630 flights versus 10,784 — the Phenom 300 experienced a -38.38% MoM decline suggesting its charter-heavy user base is more sensitive to seasonal fluctuations.
Europe
Europe recorded 28,197 business jet departures in February 2026, the mildest regional decline at -8.84% year-over-year. The region's global share expanded to 13.35%, up from 11.93% in January, as European operators proved more resilient to seasonal pressures. Milan Linate (LIML) was the standout performer with +15.28% MoM growth, driven by Milan Fashion Week and strengthening Italian business aviation demand. Conversely, Paris Le Bourget saw a -24.41% decline from January following the post-Davos and holiday period normalization. The Zurich-based winter sports corridor weakened with LSZH declining -26.09%. The Citation Excel/XLS family maintained its European leadership with 2,859 flights, while the Pilatus PC-24 held third position at 1,987 flights — confirming the Swiss turboprop-jet's strong niche in the European short-haul market.
Rest of World
The Rest of World region recorded 19,626 business jet departures in February 2026, a sharp -36.29% month-over-month contraction and -22.24% year-over-year decline. The region's global share contracted to 9.29%, down from 11.69% in January. The steep decline reflects the convergence of several seasonal factors: Brazil's Carnival period reducing corporate activity, the end of the Dubai-Abu Dhabi peak tourism window, and normalization in Indian and Chinese markets following Lunar New Year and Diwali cycles. Dubai Al Maktoum (OMDW) fell -35.00% from January as tourism season wound down. Brazilian airports collectively showed sharp declines, with Belo Horizonte (SBBH) recording -45.20% and Sao Paulo Congonhas (SBSP) at -35.18%. Sydney was the lone bright spot with +7.13% growth, benefiting from Australia's late-summer business calendar.
Country Rankings
Top 10 Countries by Business Jet Departures
The United States dominates global business aviation with 69.5% of all departures (146,811 flights), followed by Mexico (6,272) and Brazil (4,415). European countries France, United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland maintain strong positions, while the Top 10 collectively represent over 80% of global business jet activity.
| # | Country | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸United States | 146,811 | 69.53% |
| 2 | 🇲🇽Mexico | 6,272 | 2.97% |
| 3 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 4,415 | 2.09% |
| 4 | 🇬🇧United Kingdom | 4,049 | 1.92% |
| 5 | 🇨🇦Canada | 3,837 | 1.82% |
| 6 | 🇫🇷France | 3,711 | 1.76% |
| 7 | 🇩🇪Germany | 3,308 | 1.57% |
| 8 | 🇮🇹Italy | 3,172 | 1.50% |
| 9 | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 3,094 | 1.47% |
| 10 | 🇪🇸Spain | 2,538 | 1.20% |
Airport Rankings
Top 10 Airports by Region
February's North American airport rankings show broad seasonal contraction, with 9 of 10 airports declining month-over-month. Van Nuys (KVNY) was the sole gainer at +31.96%, driven by the winter entertainment industry season and award show activity in Los Angeles. Teterboro (KTEB) maintained its #1 position at 7,821 flights despite an -18.05% MoM decline. The South Florida cluster — West Palm Beach (KPBI), Miami (KOPF), and Naples (KAPF) — collectively accounted for 14,424 flights, representing 8.83% of North American activity and underscoring the region's status as the winter capital of business aviation. Washington Dulles (KIAD) showed unusual resilience at -1.44% MoM, likely reflecting government-related travel demand that is less susceptible to seasonal fluctuations.
| # | Airport | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KTEBNew York (Teterboro) | 7,821 | -18.1% |
| 2 | KPBIWest Palm Beach | 5,347 | -13.4% |
| 3 | KOPFMiami (Opa-locka) | 4,697 | -26.6% |
| 4 | KDALDallas (Love Field) | 4,463 | -24.2% |
| 5 | KAPFNaples | 4,380 | -21.4% |
| 6 | KLASLas Vegas | 4,175 | -18.0% |
| 7 | KSDLScottsdale | 4,126 | -16.7% |
| 8 | KIADWashington (Dulles) | 4,108 | -1.4% |
| 9 | KVNYLos Angeles (Van Nuys) | 4,022 | +32.0% |
| 10 | KHPNWhite Plains (Westchester) | 3,907 | -24.3% |
Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) maintained its #1 European position despite a -24.41% MoM decline to 2,412 flights, reflecting the typical February lull in French business aviation. Milan Linate's surge to third position with 1,758 flights and +15.28% growth was the standout European performance, likely fueled by Milan Fashion Week (Feb 18-24) driving international luxury travel demand. London's three ranked airports — Farnborough (EGLF), Luton (EGGW), and Biggin Hill (EGKB) — collectively recorded 3,917 flights, maintaining the UK capital's position as Europe's busiest aviation cluster despite broad winter contraction. Rome Ciampino showed remarkable stability at just -1.03% MoM, suggesting steady corporate and government aviation demand in the Italian capital.
| # | Airport | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LFPBParis (Le Bourget) | 2,412 | -24.4% |
| 2 | LSGGGeneva | 1,776 | -16.4% |
| 3 | LIMLMilan (Linate) | 1,758 | +15.3% |
| 4 | EGLFLondon (Farnborough) | 1,496 | -14.2% |
| 5 | EGGWLondon (Luton) | 1,475 | -5.4% |
| 6 | LSZHZurich | 1,408 | -26.1% |
| 7 | LFMNNice | 1,211 | -23.8% |
| 8 | LEMDMadrid | 1,136 | -4.6% |
| 9 | EGKBLondon (Biggin Hill) | 946 | -8.3% |
| 10 | LIRARome (Ciampino) | 865 | -1.0% |
February's Rest of World airport data reveals widespread contraction, with only Sydney (YSSY, +7.13%) posting positive growth among the top 10. Dubai Al Maktoum's -35.00% decline reflects the post-peak tourism season, though it retained the #1 ROW position with 1,350 flights. Istanbul rose to second position at 746 flights despite -24.26% MoM decline, benefiting from Turkey's strategic geographic position bridging European and Middle Eastern aviation demand. Brazilian airports dominated the rankings with four entries (SBJH, SBSP, SBBR, SBBH), collectively recording 2,464 flights — a testament to Brazil's growing but seasonal business aviation market. Singapore Seletar maintained its position as Asia's key hub with 680 flights.
| # | Airport | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OMDWDubai (Al Maktoum) | 1,350 | -35.0% |
| 2 | LTBAIstanbul | 746 | -24.3% |
| 3 | SBJHSao Paulo (Jundiai) | 729 | -26.6% |
| 4 | SBSPSao Paulo (Congonhas) | 680 | -35.2% |
| 5 | WSSLSingapore (Seletar) | 680 | -13.2% |
| 6 | VIDPNew Delhi | 600 | -12.7% |
| 7 | SBBRBrasilia | 553 | -16.1% |
| 8 | SBBHBelo Horizonte | 502 | -45.2% |
| 9 | VHHHHong Kong | 482 | -14.7% |
| 10 | YSSYSydney | 481 | +7.1% |
Aircraft Intelligence
Utilization Rates, Fleet Rankings & Type Distribution
February's aircraft utilization rates declined across the board compared to January, consistent with the shorter month and reduced demand. The Embraer Praetor 500 claimed the top position at 38.69% utilization across 84 aircraft, displacing the Citation Longitude which led in January. The Challenger 850 recorded 38.43% across a small 46-unit fleet. The Citation Longitude and Citation Latitude remained in the top 4 at 36.95% and 36.85% respectively, maintaining Cessna's strong showing in the utilization rankings. The Challenger 300 Series, despite being the most-flown model globally, ranked seventh in utilization at 34.11% — its larger 905-unit fleet dilutes the per-aircraft activity rate even as total fleet output leads all models.
| # | Model | Utilization | Fleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Praetor 500 | 38.69% | 84 |
| 2 | Challenger 850 | 38.43% | 46 |
| 3 | Citation Longitude | 36.95% | 116 |
| 4 | Citation Latitude | 36.85% | 378 |
| 5 | Praetor 600 | 35.06% | 104 |
| 6 | Gulfstream GIV-SP | 34.81% | 95 |
| 7 | Challenger 300 Series | 34.11% | 905 |
| 8 | Citation X | 32.85% | 244 |
| 9 | Phenom 300 | 31.76% | 729 |
| 10 | Legacy 500 Series | 31.61% | 108 |
North America's fleet composition in February maintained the structural pattern observed in prior months: Light Jets led at 43.79%, followed by Midsize Jets at 32.18%. However, Light Jets' share declined from January's 45.47%, while Midsize Jets expanded from 33.42%. This shift suggests Midsize and Heavy Jet operations — typically serving longer routes and corporate missions — were relatively more resilient during the seasonal downturn. Ultra Long Range jets held 10.56% share with 17,242 flights, while VIP Airliners remained a niche category at 0.11%.
February saw a significant reshuffling in the aircraft flight rankings. The Bombardier Challenger 300 Series claimed North America's top spot with 14,630 flights, dethroning the Embraer Phenom 300 which plunged to second with 10,784 flights — a dramatic -38.38% MoM decline. The Phenom 300's outsized drop (vs the Challenger 300's -16.04%) suggests its charter-heavy user base is significantly more sensitive to seasonal demand fluctuations. The Citation Latitude experienced an even steeper -41.84% decline, falling from third to fourth. In Europe, the Citation Excel/XLS family maintained its leadership at 2,859 flights, while the Pilatus PC-24 held third at 1,987 flights. The Rest of World region saw the Challenger 600 Series retain its lead at 1,265 flights, with Embraer models experiencing the steepest drops: Phenom 300 at -42.06% and Legacy 600 at -46.11%.
| # | Model | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Challenger 300 Series | 14,630 | -16.0% |
| 2 | Phenom 300 | 10,784 | -38.4% |
| 3 | Citation Excel/XLS/XLS+ | 10,544 | -17.4% |
| 4 | Citation Latitude | 7,806 | -41.8% |
| 5 | Citation CJ3/CJ3+ | 6,442 | -23.5% |
| 6 | Challenger 600 Series | 6,351 | -10.2% |
| 7 | Hawker 800 Series | 4,697 | -9.5% |
| 8 | Falcon 2000 Series | 4,500 | -3.1% |
| 9 | Citation X | 4,102 | -22.5% |
| 10 | Learjet 40/45 Series | 3,814 | -16.6% |
Route Analysis
Top City Pairs & Cross-Border Routes
| # | Route | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami → New York | 620 |
| 2 | Dallas → Houston | 549 |
| 3 | Las Vegas → Los Angeles | 542 |
| 4 | New York → West Palm Beach | 381 |
| 5 | Austin → Dallas | 362 |
North American cross-border activity declined broadly in February, with all Top 5 corridors posting negative MoM changes. The Mexico-US corridor retained its lead at 4,953 flights despite a -25.73% decline, reflecting post-holiday normalization in Mexican resort destinations. Canada-US traffic fell -17.51% to 3,534 flights with a concerning -21.88% YoY decline, suggesting structural softening in cross-border business travel. The Bahamas-US corridor dropped -30.57% as the winter season moved past its peak demand window. Puerto Rico-US showed the steepest MoM decline at -36.57%, while Turks and Caicos-US proved relatively resilient at -13.93%. Year-over-year, only Mexico-US showed a modest -2.50% decline; all other corridors recorded double-digit YoY contractions.
| # | Route | Flights | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico → US | 4,953 | -2.5% |
| 2 | Canada → US | 3,534 | -21.9% |
| 3 | Bahamas → US | 2,748 | -22.9% |
| 4 | Puerto Rico → US | 680 | -5.2% |
| 5 | Turks and Caicos → US | 649 | -16.1% |
Operator Rankings
Top Operators by Region
NetJets Aviation maintained commanding North American market leadership at 12.17% share with 18,204 flights, followed by Flexjet at 5.91% (8,847 flights). The Top 3 operators — NetJets, Flexjet, and Executive Jet Management — collectively controlled 20.12% of departures. Fractional operators showed relative resilience as contractual share-owners maintained scheduled flying even during the seasonal trough. Vista Jet US rose to fourth position with 2,566 flights (1.72%), while Solairus Aviation rounded out the top 5 at 2,205 flights. The tail end of the Top 10 remained highly competitive, with Baker Aviation at 1,005 flights representing the 0.67% threshold for inclusion.
| # | Operator | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NetJets Aviation, Inc. | 18,204 | 12.17% |
| 2 | Flexjet, LLC | 8,847 | 5.91% |
| 3 | Executive Jet Management, Inc. | 3,049 | 2.04% |
| 4 | Vista Jet US | 2,566 | 1.72% |
| 5 | Solairus Aviation | 2,205 | 1.47% |
| 6 | flyExclusive | 1,995 | 1.33% |
| 7 | Jet Linx Aviation, LLC | 1,637 | 1.09% |
| 8 | Wheels Up Partners, LLC | 1,508 | 1.01% |
| 9 | Airshare | 1,447 | 0.97% |
| 10 | Baker Aviation, LLC | 1,005 | 0.67% |
NetJets Europe's 13.07% market share (3,524 flights) dominated the European operator landscape, nearly doubling VistaJet's 7.04% second-place share. The European market remains notably more consolidated at the top compared to North America's fragmented operator ecosystem. Flexjet's continued European expansion placed it third at 515 flights (1.91%), while specialist operators like JETFLY AVIATION SA and ProAir Aviation GmbH maintained steady presence in the 450-flight range. Svenskt Ambulansflyg's inclusion at #9 (378 flights) reflects the Swedish air ambulance service's consistent operation regardless of seasonal commercial demand patterns.
| # | Operator | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NetJets Europe | 3,524 | 13.07% |
| 2 | VistaJet Ltd | 1,899 | 7.04% |
| 3 | Flexjet, LLC | 515 | 1.91% |
| 4 | JETFLY AVIATION SA | 458 | 1.70% |
| 5 | ProAir Aviation GmbH | 450 | 1.67% |
| 6 | Platoon Aviation | 415 | 1.54% |
| 7 | Avcon Jet Ag | 408 | 1.51% |
| 8 | ASL Group | 378 | 1.40% |
| 9 | Svenskt Ambulansflyg AB | 378 | 1.40% |
| 10 | Air X | 351 | 1.30% |
| # | Operator | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VistaJet Ltd | 779 | 5.07% |
| 2 | Air Link Pty Limited | 275 | 1.79% |
| 3 | Royal Flying Doctor Service | 257 | 1.67% |
| 4 | Lily Jet | 228 | 1.48% |
| 5 | Qatar Executive | 188 | 1.22% |
| 6 | NATIONAL JET EXPRESS | 182 | 1.18% |
| 7 | Avcon Jet Ag | 144 | 0.94% |
| 8 | Tag Aviation Asia | 141 | 0.92% |
| 9 | Deer Jet (Beijing) Co., Ltd. | 136 | 0.88% |
| 10 | Air X | 134 | 0.87% |
Flight Patterns
Range Distribution & Flight Structure
The Long-Haul segment (>2,000 nm) continued its structural resilience with just -0.13% year-over-year decline, compared to -17.63% for Short-Haul and -16.04% for Medium-Haul. Long-Haul's share expanded to 3.92%, up from 3.96% in January but maintaining the secular trend toward longer missions. The Short-Haul segment accounted for 55.01% of operations (116,150 flights), while Medium-Haul held 41.06% (86,709 flights). The month-over-month declines were remarkably uniform at -19.43% (Short), -20.39% (Medium), and -20.63% (Long), suggesting the February contraction was calendar-driven rather than segment-specific. Year-over-year, however, the divergence is striking: Long-Haul's near-zero decline versus Short-Haul's -17.63% reinforces the structural shift toward intercontinental and ultra-long-range business aviation missions.
February's flight structure data reveals continued concentration in intracontinental operations at 96.75%, slightly higher than January's 95.8%. North America posted the highest domestic concentration at 98.98%, with only 1.02% of flights connecting intercontinentally. Europe maintained its higher cross-border rate at 75.02%, reflecting the continent's fragmented geography where routine business missions frequently span multiple national boundaries. The Rest of World region recorded the longest average stage length at 794.4 nm (128.4 minutes), exceeding even January's 728.2 nm — driven by the geographic dispersion of economic centers in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Average flight distances were remarkably stable across regions, with North America at 605.3 nm and Europe at 610.9 nm, virtually unchanged from prior months.
Spotlight
Featured Route & Aircraft — February 2026
The Miami-New York corridor recorded 620 flights in February 2026, a -12.92% decline from January's 712 flights and -21.32% year-over-year from February 2025's 788 flights. Despite the seasonal decline, this remains the busiest domestic city pair, averaging 22 flights per day across the approximately 3-hour, 1,760 km route. NetJets led operator activity with 73 flights (11.77% route share), followed by Flexjet with 63 flights (10.16%) and Solairus Aviation with 34 flights (5.48%). The route's year-over-year softening contrasts with its +14.68% YoY growth in January, suggesting that February's broader market weakness disproportionately impacted even the most established corridors.
Miami→New YorkThe Bombardier Challenger 300 Series (including 300, 350, and 3500 variants) overtook the Embraer Phenom 300 as the world's most popular business jet model in February 2026 with 16,700 flights across a 905-aircraft global fleet. The model's -15.77% MoM decline was substantially milder than the Phenom 300's -38% drop, reflecting the Challenger 300's stronger presence in fractional and corporate flight departments that maintain more consistent utilization patterns. Route analysis shows the Miami-New York corridor led with 79 flights, followed by New York-West Palm Beach (78) and Dallas-Houston (58). The model's 34.11% utilization rate ranks seventh globally, with its large fleet ensuring volume leadership even without the highest per-aircraft activity. The Challenger 300 Series' ascent signals a shift in February's market dynamics favoring midsize jets over light jets during the seasonal demand trough.
SE-RVF, a Pilatus PC-24 operated by Svenskt Ambulansflyg (Swedish Air Ambulance), was the most active business jet globally in February 2026 with 128 flights — approximately 4.6 flights per day across the 28-day month. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, this air ambulance jet primarily served domestic Swedish routes, with all of its top 5 routes connecting through Gothenburg. The Gothenburg-Malmo route led with 15 flights, followed by Gothenburg-Stockholm with 12 flights. The PC-24's versatile performance characteristics — including short-field capability and jet speed — make it ideally suited for the air ambulance mission profile across Sweden's dispersed population centers. Unlike typical most-active aircraft driven by charter or corporate demand, SE-RVF represents essential medical transport infrastructure.
الأسئلة الشائعة
How many business jet flights were there in February 2026?+
There were 211,153 global business jet departures in February 2026, a -16.51% change year-over-year and -19.89% month-over-month. North America accounted for 77.35% of all departures (163,330 flights), followed by Europe at 13.35% (28,197) and Rest of World at 9.29% (19,626). The month-over-month decline follows the well-established seasonal pattern where January represents the weakest month of the year as corporate travel resumes gradually after winter holidays. The active global fleet comprised 16,958 aircraft averaging 7,541 departures per day.
What was the busiest business aviation airport in February 2026?+
In North America, New York (Teterboro) (KTEB) was the busiest business aviation airport with 7,821 departures, followed by West Palm Beach (5,347) and Miami (Opa-locka) (4,697). South Florida airports posted strong gains driven by high-net-worth seasonal migration, while Northeast hubs experienced post-holiday corrections. In Europe, Paris (Le Bourget) (LFPB) led with 2,412 departures, maintaining its position as Europe's premier business aviation hub. In the Rest of World, Dubai (Al Maktoum) led with 1,350 departures.
Which aircraft had the highest utilization rate in February 2026?+
The Praetor 500 had the highest utilization rate at 38.69% across a fleet of 84 aircraft, followed by the Challenger 850 at 38.43% (46 aircraft) and the Citation Longitude at 36.95%. The most popular model overall was the Challenger 300 Series by Bombardier with 16,700 total flights across 905 aircraft globally.
What was the most popular private jet route in February 2026?+
The Miami–New York corridor was the busiest business aviation route with 620 flights, averaging 22 flights per day. Year-over-year traffic grew -21.3%, driven by South Florida's continued emergence as a financial and tech relocation destination. NetJets Aviation, Inc. dominated the route with 11.77% market share, followed by Flexjet, LLC at 10.16%. The approximately ~3 hrs flight covers 1,760 km.
What is the largest business aviation operator in February 2026?+
NetJets Aviation, Inc. was the largest operator in North America with 18,204 flights and 12.17% market share, widening its lead over second-place Flexjet, LLC (8,847 flights, 5.91%). The top 3 North American operators collectively controlled approximately 26% of departures. In Europe, NetJets Europe led with 3,524 flights (13.07% share), followed by VistaJet Ltd with 1,899 flights. Fractional operators recovered fastest from the post-holiday period as contractual share-owners resumed travel ahead of charter customers.
What are the business aviation market trends for February 2026?+
Key trends in February 2026 include: (1) a structural shift towards longer-range flights, with Long-Haul growing +-0.1% YoY while Short-Haul declined -17.6%; (2) the Rest of World region grew +-22.2% YoY, nearly matching Europe's share for the first time; (3) South Florida airports outperformed as high-net-worth winter migration drove traffic; (4) fractional operators (NetJets, Flexjet) maintained resilience through the seasonal downturn; and (5) the Challenger 300 Series consolidated its position as the world's most popular business jet model.
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