Business aviation flight activity had a strong finish last year, but the gains seen in the second half weren’t enough to overcome a slow start in the first half, according to TraqPak data from aviation services company Argus. Overall, activity for the year decreased by 0.3 percent from 2012.
Flying fell 1.7 percent year-over-year in the first six months, but the second half was up 1 percent, Argus noted. Activity jumped in the fourth quarter, as flying surged 1.6 percent from the previous year.
By operator segment, Part 135 activity had a “banner year,” posting an 11.3-percent increase over 2012. “The fractional industry suffered in 2013 due to the shutdown of Avantair and changes in CitationAir’s operating model,” Argus said, noting that this segment experienced a 9.2-percent decrease year-over-year. The Part 91 market also struggled, with flying down 4.2 percent year-over-year.
Aircraft category results indicated a strong market for all three jet categories, led by large cabin jets with a 5.5-percent gain. Light and midsize jet flying was up 3.1 percent and 2 percent, respectively, “thanks in large part to the Part 135 market.” The turboprop sector, affected greatly by the Avantair shutdown, finished the year down 6.6 percent from 2012.