Global private jet activity rises 2.6% year-over-year in week 40

Global private jet activity rose 2.6% year-over-year in the week ending 4 October 2026, according to analysis by Private Jet Card Comparisons of data from WingX. The week recorded 79,710 private jet flights worldwide.

This represents approximately 3% more flights than the same week last year, though activity declined about 3% from the previous week. The week had no major event inflating the year-over-year comparison, according to WingX analysts, offering what they described as a clean read on true private jet trends.

United States drove gains

North America accounted for the largest share of global activity with 57,359 total flights. The United States saw over 55,000 flights, a 4% year-over-year increase.

Smaller-market states posted the biggest year-over-year gains: New Jersey rose 12.7%, Virginia 24%, South Carolina 23%, and Georgia 10%. California, Texas, and Florida each saw slightly positive weeks. However, the U.S. as a whole declined 2% week-over-week, largely due to a 9% drop in Texas.

Nick Koscinski, WingX analyst, told Private Jet Card Comparisons that fractional operators drove U.S. growth. "The U.S. did almost all of the work, and fractional operators are still the ones driving it, while charter has now been soft for two weeks in a row," Koscinski said. He added that "the Gulf is back near its best levels since February, which is encouraging, but it's still a fifth below last year, and Mexico continues to slide, now including Los Cabos."

Europe and four-week trends

Europe recorded 12,646 private jet departures, about 2% more than week 40 of last year. Italy led with a 15% year-over-year increase, while Germany and France also posted gains.

Over the past four weeks, private jets totalled nearly 330,000 global departures, representing approximately 3% more flights than the same period last year. Year-to-date in 2026, private jet activity shows 23 weeks up, 5 weeks flat, and 12 weeks down.