Climate, Anti-Wealth Groups Fail To Stymie Demand For Private Jets

Forbes

2 days ago

Efforts by climate and anti-wealth campaigners to hold back demand for private jet flights are failing, at least so far in 2025.
Despite efforts by more countries to impose taxes on private jet flights (as well as first- and business-class tickets on airlines), demand for private jet flights increased during the first half of 2025 compared to 2024.
WingX data shows that worldwide private jet segments increased by 3% through June, resulting in more than 1.8 million departures.
And it wasn't just jets. Turboprops flew over an additional one million flights, a 2% year-over-year increase.
The gains come after two years of slight decline after Covid-led demand peaked in 2022.
So far in 2025, only two weeks have seen a year-over-year dip, including Week 1. Since then, the industry has experienced increases in 22 weeks, with two weeks showing no change.
In the U.S., the largest market for private aviation, departures increased by 3.6%, and flight hours rose 3.4% year-over-year, according to WingX.
All the major cabin-size categories saw gains (only entry-level jets and VIP airliner jets saw dips).
Light jets, the largest segment of the industry (26.5% of departures in H1), saw a 3.5% year-over-year increase, although flight hours were only up 2.7%, indicating more short hops.
The ability to fly nonstop and avoid connecting via hubs, as well as the convenience of flying instead of taking long drives, are among the top reasons users choose private flights, according to research by Private Jet Card Comparisons.
However, it wasn't just above short hops. Ultra-long-range jets, which can fly 12 hours or more nonstop, saw a 5.3% increase in segments, tied with super-light jets for the biggest year-over-year gain.
Even in Europe, where groups regularly target private jet users with protests at airports, the segment increased by 0.3% year-over-year.
France, Europe's largest market for private aviation, saw a 1.1% increase in demand despite efforts to increase taxes on charter flights.
Among the 10 largest markets, Spain led the way with a 5.3% year-over-year gain, while Italy (+3.8%), Sweden (+0.7%), and the United Kingdom (+0.7%) all saw year-over-year increases in private jet flights.
What's more, the industry appears bullish on itself.
NetJets took delivery of its first two Embraer Phenom 500s. It has options for up to 250 midsize jets, in addition to options and orders for over 1,500 more private jets from Textron Aviation and Bombardier.
A mystery buyer placed a firm order with Bombardier for 50 jets. The Canadian manufacturer stated that it is a first-time customer, ruling out the three most prominent players – NetJets, Flexjet, and Vista Global – and indicating that it could be a new entrant.
The order, which includes options for 70 more jets, is initially valued at $1.7 billion and could range to over $4 billion.
Bombardier only manufactures super-midsize, large, and ultra-long-haul private jets, all with stand-up cabins across its Challenger and Global lines, meaning whoever is behind the order is seeking to play in the premium, long-haul segment of the market.
That follows a record order by Flexjet with Embraer earlier this year that will see it double its fleet to over 600 aircraft by early next decade.
NetJets expects to take delivery of approximately 90 new jets this year, according to company executives.
The unit of Berkshire Hathaway, which offers fractional ownership programs, said the airplanes it received were sold to customers before their arrival.
While concerns about tariffs and trade wars persist, Q1 pre-owned private jet transactions among members of the International Aircraft Dealers Association increased by 24%.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association, which tracks deliveries of new private aircraft, has an 11% year-over-year increase in business jet deliveries in Q1, however, that trailed the increase for turboprop deliveries, which were up 23.1% year-over-year.
Bonus depreciation, part of the Big Beautifull Bill, passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, which applies to private jets used for business, is expected to add froth to the market.