Argus International has reported a 1% increase in first-quarter business aircraft flight activity. This growth, while slight, signals a shift in trends following more than two years of consistent declines, offering a glimpse of optimism for the sector moving forward.

“First-quarter 2025 is in the history books and, even with some lingering economic uncertainty, we managed to gain 1% after two-plus years of consistent declines in this three-month period,” said Argus senior v-p of software Travis Kuhn. “Fractional and Part 135 activity have started the year in positive territory, but Part 91 and overall large-cabin activity continue to be underperforming segments. All things considered, we’re in pretty good shape as an industry so far.”

Argus’ latest data highlights a mixed picture across different sectors of business aviation. The North American market saw positive results, particularly in the fractional and Part 135 categories, which reported solid growth. Fractional activity was the standout, increasing 7.1% year over year. Meanwhile, Part 135 operations saw a 2.2% increase, continuing a four-month streak of yearly gains. However, Part 91 operations, which involve general aviation flights, experienced a slight decline of 0.9%.

In contrast, the large-cabin jet sector, which is typically more sensitive to economic fluctuations, continued to underperform with a 1.9% decrease in activity compared to March 2024. On the other hand, turboprops demonstrated the strongest growth in the month, up by 3.6%, while midsize jets also recorded a healthy 3.1% increase.

Europe, which is experiencing its own set of challenges, recorded a decrease of 2.7% in flight activity for March 2025, reflecting a broader regional trend. The forecast for April is slightly less optimistic, with TraqPak analysts projecting a 1.2% decrease in North American flight activity and a 5.1% decline in Europe.

Despite these regional discrepancies, the broader global aviation industry continues to show resilience, with gains in the Caribbean and Canada, driven by increased spring break demand. The outlook for 2025 remains cautiously optimistic, with key sectors of the industry showing signs of growth.