Summary: Fiscal Year 2026 Through March
The FAA's Aviation System Performance Metrics (ASPM) program tracks every business jet operation in U.S. controlled airspace. The April 2026 issue covers data through March 2026, representing the first six months of federal fiscal year 2026 (October 2025 through March 2026).
The numbers are clear: business jet activity continues to grow. Total operations are up nearly 4% compared to the same six-month window last year, with international operations outpacing domestic growth by more than a full percentage point. The domestic-to-international ratio holds steady at roughly 92/8, a split that has been consistent for the past several years.
Monthly Operations Trend
The trailing 12-month view shows the seasonal rhythm of U.S. business jet traffic. October and November are peak months. January and February contract. March marks the beginning of the spring recovery.
Monthly Business Jet Operations (Thousands) — FY2025 vs FY2026
March 2026 logged approximately 940,000 total operations, a meaningful uptick from February's 850,000. The year-over-year comparison for each month shows consistent positive growth, with the strongest gains in November (+5.8%) and the narrowest in January (+1.2%).
Year-over-Year Change by Month (%)
Top 10 Airports by Business Jet Operations
Teterboro continues to hold the top position by a wide margin. The New York metro area's primary business jet airport handles more traffic than any other facility in the country, and it is not close. The top 10 list is dominated by airports serving major financial centers, Florida leisure markets, and Texas energy hubs.
| # | Airport | Code | Operations (FY26 YTD) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teterboro | TEB | 87,420 | ▲ 4.2% |
| 2 | Van Nuys | VNY | 72,315 | ▲ 2.8% |
| 3 | Fort Lauderdale Exec | FXE | 68,940 | ▲ 5.1% |
| 4 | Addison | ADS | 59,870 | ▲ 3.6% |
| 5 | Palm Beach Intl | PBI | 55,210 | ▲ 6.3% |
| 6 | Scottsdale | SDL | 51,680 | ▲ 3.9% |
| 7 | Houston Hobby | HOU | 48,950 | ▲ 2.1% |
| 8 | Naples Municipal | APF | 46,320 | ▲ 7.2% |
| 9 | DeKalb-Peachtree | PDK | 44,890 | ▲ 3.4% |
| 10 | Centennial | APA | 43,510 | ▲ 2.9% |
Naples Municipal (APF) shows the strongest year-over-year growth at 7.2%, reflecting continued migration of wealth and aviation activity into Southwest Florida. Palm Beach International (PBI) follows at 6.3%, consistent with the seasonal demand patterns from boat show traffic and the broader Palm Beach economy.
Top 10 Aircraft Models by Operations
The Embraer Phenom 300 holds the top spot for the third consecutive year. Its combination of range, speed, operating economics, and cabin size makes it the most-flown business jet in U.S. airspace. The Cessna Citation family occupies three of the top ten positions.
Top Aircraft Models — FY2026 YTD Operations
| # | Aircraft | Category | Operations (FY26 YTD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Embraer Phenom 300 | Light | 312,400 |
| 2 | Cessna Citation CJ3/CJ3+ | Light | 267,800 |
| 3 | Bombardier Challenger 300/350 | Super-Mid | 248,600 |
| 4 | Gulfstream G280 | Super-Mid | 198,500 |
| 5 | Cessna Citation XLS/XLS+ | Mid | 187,200 |
| 6 | Bombardier Global 7500 | Ultra Long | 164,300 |
| 7 | Gulfstream G650/G650ER | Ultra Long | 156,800 |
| 8 | Pilatus PC-24 | Light | 142,100 |
| 9 | Cessna Citation Latitude | Mid | 138,900 |
| 10 | Dassault Falcon 2000 | Large | 127,400 |
Jet-A Fuel Pricing
The U.S. Gulf Coast kerosene-type jet fuel spot price, the benchmark for Jet-A pricing nationwide, averaged $3.70 per gallon in March 2026. That is a sharp spike from the $1.97 low in December 2025, and the highest monthly average since mid-2023. For operators, the fuel line item on the P&L just got heavier.
U.S. Gulf Coast Jet-A Spot Price ($/Gallon) — Trailing 12 Months
The March spike demands attention. Operations grew 3.96% YoY through the first five months of FY2026 when fuel was relatively stable in the $1.97-$2.26 range. The March surge to $3.70 happened late in the reporting period and has not yet shown up in operations data. If this pricing holds into Q3, expect operators to pass the cost through via higher hourly rates, and marginal missions (shorter legs, repositioning flights) to get cut first.
U.S. Charter Fleet Supply
The Jet Finder tracks every FAA-authorized Part 135 charter aircraft through the D085 Aircraft Listing and FAA Aircraft Registry. This is the supply side of the equation: how many aircraft are legally available for charter in U.S. airspace.
Part 135 Fleet by Category
The fleet composition tells its own story. Turboprops (2,810) and rotorcraft (2,181) make up nearly half the Part 135 fleet, serving air ambulance, cargo, and regional shuttle missions. The jet categories, from Very Light Jet through Ultra Long Range, total 4,900 aircraft. That is the charter supply pool that absorbs the demand reflected in the FAA operations data above.
Explore the full U.S. Charter Fleet Registry →
Analysis
Three takeaways from this month's data:
Growth is steady, not explosive. The 3.96% year-over-year increase is healthy but not overheated. Business aviation traffic has normalized after the post-pandemic surge of 2021-2022 and is now growing at rates that track with GDP expansion and corporate travel demand. This is sustainable growth, not a bubble.
Florida continues to outperform. Three of the top 10 airports are in Florida (FXE, PBI, APF), and all three are posting above-average YoY growth. The state's combination of no income tax, favorable weather, and expanding FBO infrastructure continues to attract both permanent relocations and seasonal traffic.
Light jets dominate the activity data. The Phenom 300, Citation CJ3, and PC-24 collectively account for a disproportionate share of total operations. This reflects the economics of the charter market: the majority of missions are short-to-medium haul domestic flights where light jets offer the best cost-per-hour proposition. The large-cabin and ultra-long-range aircraft (Global 7500, G650) show up in the top 10 by operations volume, which underscores the depth of the U.S. long-haul business jet market.
Fuel is now a headwind. Jet-A spiked to $3.70/gal in March, nearly double the December low of $1.97. For a Phenom 300 burning 150 gallons per hour, that is roughly $260/hr more in direct fuel cost compared to December. Across 312,000 operations, the aggregate cost increase to the light jet fleet alone is significant. If pricing holds above $3.00 through Q3, expect charter rates to adjust upward and price-sensitive missions to drop off. The fuel tailwind that supported the first five months of FY2026 growth has reversed.
Charter supply is holding. The Part 135 fleet at 10,738 aircraft represents a stable supply base. Net additions have been modest. The market is not oversupplied, and the 3.96% operations growth against a roughly flat fleet suggests improving utilization rates. That is healthy for operators.
The FAA publishes this data monthly. We will too. With context.
