Global Business Aviation Report — October 2025
October 2025 recorded 300,697 global business jet departures, a -2.09% year-over-year decline from October 2024's 307,126 flights but a +3.11% increase from September 2025's 291,627 departures. October traditionally represents the peak month for North American business aviation as corporate travel reaches its seasonal zenith before the year-end holiday slowdown. The modest YoY decline suggests market normalization following 2024's elevated activity levels. Despite the slight contraction, October remains one of the busiest months in the business aviation calendar, with the global active fleet reaching 17,804 aircraft — the highest fleet count observed in the monthly series. The +3.11% sequential growth from September confirms October's seasonal strength, particularly driven by North American corporate travel demand, fall event season, and Sun Belt resort markets ramping up for winter season.
October's monthly pattern confirms the well-established seasonal cycle in global business aviation. After the September post-summer recovery, October marks the culmination of the fall business travel season across North America. The 13-month trend shows a clear U-shaped pattern through 2025: January's trough at approximately 262,000 flights, building steadily through spring and summer, with October reaching the annual peak near 300,000 before the November-December holiday tapering begins. Year-over-year comparisons show 2025 tracking slightly below 2024 volumes, suggesting the market has entered a normalization phase after the strong post-pandemic recovery years.
Market Overview
October 2025 — Global Business Aviation
Regional Deep Dive
North America · Europe · Rest of World
North America
North America recorded 225,583 business jet departures in October 2025, a +3.17% sequential increase from September's 218,596 flights but -3.78% below October 2024. The region maintained its dominant 75.02% share of global departures, slightly below its average as European and Rest of World markets contributed relatively more during their respective seasonal peaks. October's strength was driven by corporate calendar demands, major industry conferences and events, and the beginning of the winter migration to Sun Belt destinations. Las Vegas (+29.84% MoM), West Palm Beach (+39.34%), and Scottsdale (+32.82%) posted the strongest gains as entertainment, resort, and winter lifestyle markets accelerated. The Dallas market continued its leadership with 6,693 departures, benefiting from the Texas corporate aviation ecosystem's sustained growth.
Europe
Europe recorded 41,278 business jet departures in October 2025, a sharp -16.82% decline from September's 49,608 flights — reflecting the typical end-of-summer seasonal correction. Despite this sequential decline, the year-over-year comparison showed +1.96% growth over October 2024's 40,485 flights, indicating underlying market resilience. Nice posted the steepest decline at -40.99% as Côte d'Azur summer traffic normalized, while Milan Linate (-25.29%) and Geneva (-22.31%) also felt the seasonal pullback. Paris Le Bourget maintained its dominant position with 4,307 departures, posting a modest +3.51% gain — demonstrating its year-round business aviation hub status independent of leisure seasonality. Madrid emerged as a bright spot with +22.09% growth, suggesting increased Iberian Peninsula corporate aviation activity.
Rest of World
The Rest of World region recorded 33,836 business jet departures in October 2025, a -12.68% decline from September's elevated 38,739 flights but +2.03% above October 2024. Dubai posted remarkable +42.28% MoM growth (1,760 departures), signaling the beginning of the Middle East peak season as temperatures moderate and business activity intensifies ahead of the winter conference calendar. Riyadh's +44.74% surge to 935 flights reflects Saudi Arabia's growing aviation market ambition. Brazilian markets showed mixed results with São Paulo holding steady (+6.04%) while Brasília contracted (-2.43%). Singapore posted strong +27.40% growth, indicating robust Southeast Asian corporate aviation demand driven by regional trade flows and the APAC business cycle.
Country Rankings
Top 10 Countries by Business Jet Departures
The United States dominates global business aviation with 67.6% of all departures (203,356 flights), followed by Mexico (9,422) and Brazil (6,987). 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 | 203,356 | 67.63% |
| 2 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 9,422 | 3.13% |
| 3 | 🇲🇽Mexico | 6,987 | 2.32% |
| 4 | 🇨🇦Canada | 6,587 | 2.19% |
| 5 | 🇬🇧United Kingdom | 6,070 | 2.02% |
| 6 | 🇫🇷France | 5,821 | 1.94% |
| 7 | 🇮🇹Italy | 4,969 | 1.65% |
| 8 | 🇳🇬Nigeria | 4,756 | 1.58% |
| 9 | 🇩🇪Germany | 4,710 | 1.57% |
| 10 | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2,664 | 0.89% |
Airport Rankings
Top 10 Airports by Region
October's North American airport rankings confirm the seasonal transition toward Sun Belt markets. Teterboro maintains its #1 position with 11,302 departures, but the most dramatic gains occurred in resort and lifestyle destinations: West Palm Beach surged +39.34% as early snowbird migration began, Scottsdale jumped +32.82% as Arizona's pleasant fall weather attracts aviation activity, and Las Vegas rose +29.84% on convention and entertainment demand. Dallas continued its strong performance at 6,693 departures with +13.50% growth, reflecting the Texas corporate ecosystem's momentum. Houston (+22.94%) similarly benefited from energy sector activity and regional corporate demand.
| # | Airport | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KTEBNew York | 11,302 | +0.7% |
| 2 | KDALDallas | 6,693 | +13.5% |
| 3 | KIADWashington | 5,596 | +3.7% |
| 4 | KHPNWestchester | 5,302 | +5.4% |
| 5 | KLASLas Vegas | 4,938 | +29.8% |
| 6 | KVNYLos Angeles | 4,555 | +3.2% |
| 7 | KPBIWest Palm Beach | 4,449 | +39.3% |
| 8 | KSDLScottsdale | 4,067 | +32.8% |
| 9 | KMDWChicago | 4,012 | -1.5% |
| 10 | KHOUHouston | 3,998 | +22.9% |
European airport rankings reveal the sharp seasonal transition from summer to fall. Nice's -40.99% decline is the most dramatic, reflecting the end of the Côte d'Azur luxury travel season. Milan Linate (-25.29%), Geneva (-22.31%), and Zurich (-22.34%) all experienced significant post-summer corrections. Palma de Mallorca (-10.25%) and London Biggin Hill (-18.88%) similarly felt reduced leisure demand. Paris Le Bourget (+3.51%) stands out as the only major hub posting growth, underscoring its unique position as a year-round business aviation center rather than a seasonally dependent leisure destination. Madrid's +22.09% growth suggests the Iberian market operates on a different seasonal curve, with October attracting business travelers as mild autumn weather coincides with the corporate calendar.
| # | Airport | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LFPBParis | 4,307 | +3.5% |
| 2 | LFMNNice | 2,341 | -41.0% |
| 3 | EGGWLondon Luton | 2,155 | -8.6% |
| 4 | EGLFLondon Farnborough | 2,128 | -18.5% |
| 5 | LIMLMilan Linate | 2,077 | -25.3% |
| 6 | LSGGGeneva | 1,978 | -22.3% |
| 7 | LEMDMadrid | 1,890 | +22.1% |
| 8 | LSZHZurich | 1,547 | -22.3% |
| 9 | LEPAPalma | 1,427 | -10.3% |
| 10 | EGKBLondon Biggin Hill | 1,375 | -18.9% |
Dubai's emergence as the clear Rest of World leader with 1,760 departures and +42.28% MoM growth marks the beginning of the Gulf winter season, when comfortable temperatures and major events draw global business aviation traffic. Riyadh's +44.74% surge reflects Saudi Arabia's infrastructure investments and growing appeal as a business destination. Nigerian airports (Lagos 986, Abuja 852) show strong growth rates (+28.22% and +22.77% respectively), indicating West African business aviation's continued expansion. Singapore's +27.40% growth signals robust Southeast Asian demand, driven by regional trade flows and APAC corporate connectivity.
| # | Airport | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OMDWDubai | 1,760 | +42.3% |
| 2 | SBSPSão Paulo | 1,124 | +6.0% |
| 3 | LTBAIstanbul | 1,117 | +3.6% |
| 4 | WSSLSingapore | 995 | +27.4% |
| 5 | DNMMLagos | 986 | +28.2% |
| 6 | OERKRiyadh | 935 | +44.7% |
| 7 | SBJHSão Paulo Campo | 905 | +0.1% |
| 8 | SBBRBrasília | 885 | -2.4% |
| 9 | SBBHBelo Horizonte | 873 | +14.9% |
| 10 | DNAAAbuja | 852 | +22.8% |
Aircraft Intelligence
Utilization Rates, Fleet Rankings & Type Distribution
October 2025's aircraft utilization data — measuring average active days per month divided by 31 days — shows the Citation Longitude leading at 54.81% across 118 aircraft, closely followed by the Citation Latitude at 53.73% across a larger 336-unit fleet. These Cessna Citation models' dominance reflects their popularity in the North American fractional and charter markets, where October's peak corporate travel season maximizes fleet deployment. The Praetor 500 (49.67%, 68 aircraft) rounds out the top three, demonstrating Embraer's strong presence in the midsize segment. Notable is the Phenom 300's 45.24% rate across the largest fleet in the top 10 (550 aircraft), suggesting broad market demand across the light jet segment.
| # | Model | Utilization | Fleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citation Longitude | 54.81% | 118 |
| 2 | Citation Latitude | 53.73% | 336 |
| 3 | Praetor 500 | 49.67% | 68 |
| 4 | Phenom 300 | 45.24% | 550 |
| 5 | Legacy 500 Series | 40.57% | 99 |
| 6 | Challenger 300 Series | 37.63% | 802 |
| 7 | Citation X | 35.91% | 240 |
| 8 | Learjet 70/75 Series | 34.47% | 114 |
| 9 | Citation Excel/XLS/XLS+ | 34.05% | 671 |
| 10 | Praetor 600 | 32.38% | 77 |
North America's aircraft type distribution in October 2025 reflects the region's domestic-focused market structure. Light Jets dominate with 48.13% of 222,490 total segments, driven by owner-operators, fractional programs, and charter demand for short-to-medium-range corporate missions. Midsize Jets account for 32.44%, serving as the workhorse category for transcontinental domestic flights. Heavy Jets (10.94%) and Ultra-Long Range aircraft (8.39%) together represent about 19% of operations, serving cross-border and intercontinental routes. The Light Jet dominance underscores North America's point-to-point business travel culture, where executives frequently bypass commercial hub connections for direct private flights between secondary cities.
The Embraer Phenom 300 tops North America with 19,595 flights, marginally ahead of the Challenger 300 Series at 19,293. October's sequential growth from September (+1.56% for Phenom 300, +5.45% for Challenger 300) confirms the seasonal peak in corporate aviation demand. The Challenger 300's stronger MoM gain suggests medium-range corporate missions grew faster than short-haul charter demand in October. European markets show broad seasonal declines across all models, with the sharpest drops in Citation Mustang (-24.32%) and Challenger 300 Series (-21.66%), reflecting end-of-summer leisure travel normalization. In Rest of World, the Challenger 600 Series leads with 3,180 flights, while the Legacy 600 Series posted the only positive MoM growth at +10.18%, driven by emerging market expansion.
| # | Model | Flights | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phenom 300 | 19,595 | +1.6% |
| 2 | Challenger 300 Series | 19,293 | +5.5% |
| 3 | Citation Excel/XLS/XLS+ | 15,449 | +2.4% |
| 4 | Citation Latitude | 14,413 | +0.7% |
| 5 | Citation CJ3/CJ3+ | 10,209 | +3.5% |
| 6 | Challenger 600 Series | 7,619 | +3.5% |
| 7 | Hawker 800 Series | 5,869 | +3.9% |
| 8 | Falcon 2000 Series | 5,302 | -0.0% |
| 9 | Learjet 40/45 Series | 5,298 | -2.6% |
| 10 | Citation X | 5,199 | +4.2% |
Route Analysis
Top City Pairs & Cross-Border Routes
| # | Route | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas → Los Angeles | 1,074 |
| 2 | Dallas → Houston | 778 |
| 3 | Austin → Dallas | 574 |
| 4 | New York → Washington | 531 |
| 5 | Los Angeles → San Francisco | 526 |
October 2025's cross-border route analysis shows the Canada-US corridor leading with 5,014 flights, though trending -11.71% year-over-year as Canadian business aviation faces headwinds from economic uncertainty. The Mexico-US corridor (4,121 flights) showed near-flat YoY performance (-0.12%), with nearshoring-related travel maintaining steady demand. The Bahamas-US corridor (1,537 flights) posted -5.99% YoY decline but strong MoM growth (+42.13%), signaling the beginning of Caribbean winter season migration. In Europe, France-UK leads at 1,525 flights, while the China-Japan corridor in Rest of World surged +98.24% year-over-year to 337 flights, reflecting reopened trans-Asian business travel demand.
| # | Route | Flights | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada → US | 5,014 | -11.7% |
| 2 | Mexico → US | 4,121 | -0.1% |
| 3 | Bahamas → US | 1,537 | -6.0% |
| 4 | UK → US | 729 | -10.9% |
| 5 | Puerto Rico → US | 426 | -5.1% |
Operator Rankings
Top Operators by Region
North American operator data for October 2025 confirms the market's characteristic concentration pattern, with fractional operators leading the landscape. NetJets Aviation maintains its commanding market position, followed by Flexjet as the clear #2. The fractional model's strength during October reflects contractual share-owners maximizing their allocated flight hours during the peak corporate travel season. The market remains significantly fragmented beyond the top operators, with corporate flight departments, boutique charter companies, and owner-flown aircraft comprising the majority of flights.
| # | Operator | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NetJets Aviation, Inc. | 30,500 | 13.52% |
| 2 | Flexjet, LLC | 14,200 | 6.30% |
| 3 | Executive Jet Management, Inc. | 3,600 | 1.60% |
| 4 | flyExclusive | 3,400 | 1.51% |
| 5 | Vista Jet US | 3,100 | 1.37% |
| 6 | Wheels Up Partners, LLC | 2,800 | 1.24% |
| 7 | Solairus Aviation | 2,500 | 1.11% |
| 8 | Jet Linx Aviation, LLC | 2,300 | 1.02% |
| 9 | Airshare | 2,100 | 0.93% |
| 10 | Airsprint | 1,900 | 0.84% |
European operator dynamics in October 2025 reflect the continent's diverse regulatory landscape and mixed business model ecosystem. NetJets Europe and VistaJet maintain their established positions as the two dominant pan-European operators, with subscription, fractional, and charter models coexisting in a fragmented marketplace. The post-summer seasonal contraction affects all operators, with October volumes normalizing after the elevated Mediterranean summer season. European regulatory complexity across 27+ jurisdictions continues to support a more fragmented operator landscape compared to North America.
| # | Operator | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NetJets Europe | 5,200 | 12.60% |
| 2 | VistaJet Ltd | 3,200 | 7.75% |
| 3 | Flexjet, LLC | 680 | 1.65% |
| 4 | ProAir Aviation GmbH | 620 | 1.50% |
| 5 | JETFLY AVIATION SA | 590 | 1.43% |
| 6 | Platoon Aviation | 560 | 1.36% |
| 7 | Svenskt Ambulansflyg AB | 520 | 1.26% |
| 8 | Globeair Ag | 480 | 1.16% |
| 9 | Air X | 450 | 1.09% |
| 10 | TAG Aviation (UK) | 420 | 1.02% |
| # | Operator | Flights | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Link Pty Limited | 520 | 1.54% |
| 2 | ExcelAire | 440 | 1.30% |
| 3 | Jet Aviation | 410 | 1.21% |
| 4 | Royal Jet | 380 | 1.12% |
| 5 | Asia Jet | 350 | 1.03% |
| 6 | Deer Jet | 320 | 0.95% |
| 7 | Fly Corporate | 300 | 0.89% |
| 8 | MENA Aerospace | 280 | 0.83% |
| 9 | Sino Jet | 260 | 0.77% |
| 10 | TAG Aviation Asia | 240 | 0.71% |
Flight Patterns
Range Distribution & Flight Structure
October 2025's flight range distribution reflects the seasonal peak in short-to-medium-haul corporate travel. The short-haul segment accounts for approximately 54.7% of all operations, driven by domestic U.S. business travel at its seasonal high. Medium-haul flights represent about 33.9% of activity, serving intra-regional connectivity and cross-border routes. The long-haul segment at 11.4% shows continued year-over-year growth, confirming the structural shift toward longer-range missions as operators increasingly deploy ultra-long-range aircraft for intercontinental connectivity.
October 2025 demonstrates characteristic regional flight structure patterns. North America maintains its overwhelmingly intracontinental profile, with the vast U.S. domestic market driving the majority of activity. European operations show higher cross-border intensity, reflecting the continent's geographic fragmentation where routine business travel frequently crosses national boundaries. The Rest of World region records the longest average stage lengths, reflecting the geographic dispersion of economic centers across the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. October's seasonal dynamics — with North American peak activity and European post-summer normalization — reinforce these structural patterns.
Spotlight
Featured Route & Aircraft — October 2025
The Las Vegas–Los Angeles corridor was October 2025's most popular route with 1,074 flights — a 35-flight daily average. This 380 km, sub-one-hour route exemplifies the convenience proposition of business aviation, connecting the entertainment capital with the West Coast's largest metropolitan market. October's +34.76% MoM surge from September's 797 flights reflects the fall convention season in Las Vegas, with major trade shows, corporate events, and entertainment industry activity driving demand. However, the -16.09% YoY decline from October 2024's 1,280 flights suggests some normalization from prior year peaks. NetJets dominates the route with 19.93% share (214 flights), followed by Flexjet at 11.92% (128 flights), and Cirrus Aviation Services — a Las Vegas-based operator — at 9.03% (97 flights).
The Embraer Phenom 300 continued its reign as the world's most popular business jet model in October 2025 with 24,995 global flights — approximately 806 per day. The model posted a modest +1.39% year-over-year growth from October 2024's 24,653 flights, though down -1.63% from September's 25,410 as seasonal patterns shifted. The Phenom 300's route profile spans diverse use cases: Dallas-Houston leads with 111 flights (corporate shuttle), Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo with 87 (Embraer's home market backbone), Las Vegas-Los Angeles with 81 (entertainment corridor), and Abuja-Lagos with 59 (West African business link). This geographic diversity confirms the Phenom 300's universal appeal across markets, categories, and mission profiles, from U.S. fractional programs to Brazilian corporate operations to African charter services.
N900PS, a Cessna Citation V operated by Aero Air Charter, LLC, was October's most active business jet with 112 flights — approximately 3.6 flights per day across all 31 days of the month. Based in Pensacola, Florida, this aircraft served as a Southeast regional connector, with its top routes centering on Florida intra-state connections from Pensacola to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando. The Citation V's versatile light-to-midsize jet capability makes it well-suited for this high-frequency regional charter operation, demonstrating how business aviation serves not just UHNW individuals but also provides essential regional air connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many business jet flights were there in October 2025?+
There were 300,697 global business jet departures in October 2025, a -2.09% change year-over-year and 3.11% month-over-month. North America accounted for 75.02% of all departures (225,583 flights), followed by Europe at 13.73% (41,278) and Rest of World at 11.25% (33,836). 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 17,804 aircraft averaging 9,700 departures per day.
What was the busiest business aviation airport in October 2025?+
In North America, New York (KTEB) was the busiest business aviation airport with 11,302 departures, followed by Dallas (6,693) and Washington (5,596). South Florida airports posted strong gains driven by high-net-worth seasonal migration, while Northeast hubs experienced post-holiday corrections. In Europe, Paris (LFPB) led with 4,307 departures, maintaining its position as Europe's premier business aviation hub. In the Rest of World, Dubai led with 1,760 departures.
Which aircraft had the highest utilization rate in October 2025?+
The Citation Longitude had the highest utilization rate at 54.81% across a fleet of 118 aircraft, followed by the Citation Latitude at 53.73% (336 aircraft) and the Praetor 500 at 49.67%. The most popular model overall was the Phenom 300 by Embraer with 24,995 total flights across 550 aircraft globally.
What was the most popular private jet route in October 2025?+
The Las Vegas–Los Angeles corridor was the busiest business aviation route with 1074 flights, averaging 35 flights per day. Year-over-year traffic grew -16.1%, driven by South Florida's continued emergence as a financial and tech relocation destination. NetJets Aviation, Inc. dominated the route with 19.93% market share, followed by Flexjet, LLC at 11.92%. The approximately ~0.9 hrs flight covers 380 km.
What is the largest business aviation operator in October 2025?+
NetJets Aviation, Inc. was the largest operator in North America with 30,500 flights and 13.52% market share, widening its lead over second-place Flexjet, LLC (14,200 flights, 6.3%). The top 3 North American operators collectively controlled approximately 26% of departures. In Europe, NetJets Europe led with 5,200 flights (12.6% share), followed by VistaJet Ltd with 3,200 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 October 2025?+
Key trends in October 2025 include: (1) a structural shift towards longer-range flights, with Long-Haul growing +1.2% YoY while Short-Haul declined -2.9%; (2) the Rest of World region grew +2.0% 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 Phenom 300 consolidated its position as the world's most popular business jet model.
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