Business aircraft activity in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean eked out a “modest” 0.9 percent year-over-year gain last month, as the bellwether Part 135 charter market stumbled, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation researcher Argus International. Last month, the firm had predicted that flying would increase by 3.6 percent; this month, Argus is more cautiously calling for a 0.9 percent increase from a year ago.

Part 135 has been the stalwart of increases in flight activity over the past few years, but that run ended last month when the segment contracted by 1 percent from July 2017. In a reversal of roles, Part 91 flying, which has been anemic at best in recent times, surged 2.5 percent year-over-year, leading the overall increase last month. Fractional activity was roughly flat from a year ago, rising just 0.1 percent.

With the exception of light jets, all business aircraft categories recorded gains last month. Once again, large-cabin jets were at the top of the leaderboard, climbing 2.4 percent year-over-year, followed by midsize jets and turboprops with 1.8 percent and 1.6 percent gains, respectively. Meanwhile, light jet activity dropped by 2.1 percent, continuing recent losses in this category.

Part 135 large-cabin jet flying saw the only double-digit gain in individual categories, rising 11.4 percent, while fractional large-cabin jets posted the only double-digit decrease, falling 22.6 percent.