Business aviation flight activity last year in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean increased 0.9 percent year-over-year, matching the growth rate from 2018 and eclipsing three million flights for the third consecutive year, according to the Argus Traqpak 2019 annual business aviation review. The company’s analysts believe 2020 will be another year of positive growth, forecasting that year-over-year flight activity will rise during each month in the first half: February, up 8.2 percent; March, 5.6 percent; April, 3.9 percent; May, 3.5 percent; and June, 5.1 percent. January logged a 0.7 percent year-over-year increase.

Flight activity was positive for most of 2019 and picked up steam later in the year, rising from 0.3 percent growth in the first half to 1.4 percent in the second half, Argus said. In fact, it added, the fourth quarter experienced the strongest year-on-year rise in flying, up 1.5 percent from fourth-quarter 2018.

By operator, fractional activity soared 5.9 percent year-over-year in 2019, followed by Part 91 with a 0.7 percent gain. Part 135 flying declined 0.6 percent last year.

Aircraft segments were mixed last year, with midsize and light jet activity up 3.1 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, while large-cabin jet and turboprop flying down 0.1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.