Expectations that more preowned business aircraft sales would translate into higher utilization rates were dashed as business aviation activity in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean fell 0.1 percent year-over-year last month, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation researcher Argus International. This marks the first year-to-date decrease. Despite the dismal results in June, Argus expects flying to increase 3.6 percent this month.

While Part 135 has been the stalwart of increases in flight activity over the past few years, the segment managed only to stay on par with last year. Part 91 flying dipped 0.1 percent from a year ago, while fractional activity decreased by 0.7 percent.

By aircraft category, midsize and large-cabin jets were able to stay in the black, posting 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent year-over-year increases, respectively. Turboprop flying slid 1.9 percent, while light jet activity dropped by 0.5 percent.

Part 135 large-cabin jet flying saw the only double-digit gain in individual categories, rising 11.5 percent; paradoxically, fractional large-cabin jets posted the only double-digit decrease, falling 21 percent.

In the U.S., the Southeast region by far was home to the largest number of departures last month, at 53,587. The Western region, including California, Nevada, and Arizona, accounted for the next highest departure tally, at 31,232.