Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) has released the JSSI\nBusiness Aviation Index for the fourth quarter of 2018 and reports year-to-date\ngrowth of 4.9 percent and an increase of 4.7 percent over the same period in\n2017. The index tracks utilization of approximately 2,000 business aircraft\nworldwide and reports average flight hours flown on a monthly basis by region,\nindustry and cabin type. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDespite the dramatic market swings that defined the end of\nthe year, flight hours were up significantly for both the quarter and the year,\ncontributing to 2018 being one of the strongest years in a decade,\u201d said Neil\nW. Book, president and CEO of JSSI. \u201cWe have seen flight activity increase\nworldwide and a growing demand for private travel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The JSSI Business Aviation Index tracks and reports on the\nglobal flight activity and utilization of business aircraft, including jets,\nturboprops and helicopters. Unlike commercial aviation, which is largely driven\nby consumer spending, business aviation is a tool needed for efficient travel\nto conduct core business activities. This utilization data ultimately provides\nearly indicators and useful insights into the state of global economic\nconditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key findings include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Global\nflight activity recorded a year-to-date increase of 4.9 percent in 2018 and a\nyear-over-year increase of 4.7 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Regional\nincreases were reported in nearly every segment of the world, with the highest\nyear-to-date increases reported in Africa at 17.4 percent, Europe at 8.8\npercent, and South America at 8.1 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– The\nsmall cabin segment reported a 6.6 percent year-to-date increase and large\ncabins reported a 5.3 percent increase. Medium-sized cabins reported a decrease\nof -4.2 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Three of\nthe nine industry segments analyzed reported year-to-date increases, with\naviation at 9.1 percent, business services at 5.4 percent, and power &\nenergy at 3.6 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Every\naircraft age group analyzed reported a year-to-date jump in flight hours. Newer\naircraft with less than five years in service reported the largest increase of\n7.2 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Aircraft\noperated for compensation or hire (i.e., FAA Part 135), including non-scheduled\ncharter and air-taxi operations, reported a 9.5 percent year-to-date increase\nand an 11 percent increase in year-over-year activity. Aircraft operated under\ngeneral operating and flight rules, without compensation or reimbursement for\ncarriage of passengers or cargo (i.e., FAA Part 91), reported a year-to-date\ndecrease of -1.5 percent and a 2 percent increase in year-over-year activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n