Business aviation flights in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean ticked up 0.9 percent in October, driven in part by a 4.4 percent jump in fractional activity, according to Argus’s latest Aircraft Activity Report on its TRAQPak data. Fractional flights involving light jets led the increases, up 11 percent year over year in October. Midsize fractional operations followed at a 10.7 percent increase. These offset a 27.9 percent plunge in fractional flights involving large jets.

The drop in large-jet fractional flights also spurred a 3.7 percent decline overall in large jet activity in the month. Part 91 large jet flights in the reported regions were down 2.8 percent. However, Part 135 large jet flights were up 3.3 percent; the only aircraft category to see an increase in the Part 135 market last month.

Overall, Part 135 flights were down 1.7 percent. And while light jets drove the increase for fractional flights, they led the year-over-year decline for light jets in October, down 6.9 percent. 

Part 91 flights overall were up 1.8 percent, despite the dip in large jet flights. Turboprop flying was up 3.5 percent in the month, as was light-jet activity by 2.8 percent. 

Looking forward, Argus sees a softening in overall year-over-year activity in November, estimating a 0.2 percent slide.