North American private flying rises despite a forecast drop

Argus TraqPak data shows North American business aviation activity rose 0.9% year over year in September. Fractional flying led the market, with large-cabin fractional activity up 13.9%.

• North American business aviation activity rose 0.9% in September 2026
• Global business aviation activity rose 1.5%
• European activity returned to growth with a 0.7% gain
• North American fractional operations rose 7.2%
• Large-cabin fractional flying rose 13.9%

September business aviation flying came in stronger than expected, according to Argus International’s TraqPak data. North American activity rose 0.9% from a year earlier, even though Argus had expected a decline.

Fractional operations were the standout in North America, up 7.2%. Part 135 charter activity rose 3%, while private Part 91 flying fell 3.4%. By aircraft type, turboprops rose 4.8% and light jets rose 3.6%, while large-cabin jets fell 7% overall.

The split says a lot about today’s market. Owners flying their own aircraft appear more cautious, but shared-access models are still pulling traffic. The 13.9% jump in large-cabin fractional flying shows demand remains strong at the premium end when customers can buy access rather than a whole aircraft.