Global business aircraft flying edged up 2.2 percent last month from a year ago despite an 11.3 percent drop in Europe, according to Argus International.

In Europe, activity was “sluggish,” Argus said, as operations involving large-cabin jets plunged year-over-year by 28.4 percent in January. Meanwhile, midsize jet activity declined by 10.1 percent and light jet flights were down by 5.8 percent in Europe.

In North America, activity increased by 1.3 percent year-over-year, thanks to a 12.7 percent jump in fractional activity and a 4.4 percent gain in Part 91 operations. This buffered the 5.7 percent decline in Part 135 flights in North America.

Large-cabin jet flights in North America continued to increase, up 6.8 percent in January from a year ago. Turboprop flights increased by 2.5 percent while midsize jet operations remained even and flights by light jets were off by 1.8 percent.

Meanwhile, operations strengthened by 16.1 percent in other regions last month. Large-cabin jet operations led this increase, up by 35.7 percent, followed by turboprops at 17.1 percent and light jets at 10.6 percent. Midsize jet activity, however, was down by 6 percent in January in regions including Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.

As for February, Argus is projecting that activity will soften by 1.1 percent in North America and European activity will decline by 16.8 percent over the same month in 2022.