Business aviation has long been centered in North America. Around 60 percent of large-cabin jet deliveries and flight activity still take place in the United States and Canada. That dominance continues, but the landscape is shifting. New regions are now shaping the future of business aviation. Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and underserved parts of the world are seeing stronger growth in both fleet size and flight activity.
This shift is not only about the sale of new aircraft. It is also about the increase in flight departures, the opening of new routes, and the expansion of airport infrastructure to accommodate business jets. In many cases, governments and private investors are building new facilities from the ground up, or modernizing secondary airports to handle demand.
For operators, these changes matter. A more global distribution of demand means more variation in permitting requirements, infrastructure quality, and available services. It also means that reliable planning and performance tools are increasingly critical.
Keep reading to learn about the regional shifts now taking place, the factors driving growth in each region, and the implications for business aviation professionals worldwide.
North America: Still the Center, but Growth is Elsewhere
North America remains the largest market by far. The region accounts for the majority of fractional ownership programs, corporate flight departments, and charter operations. Large operators like NetJets and Flexjet anchor the market, and fixed base operators are widely available across the continent.
Yet growth is slowing. Deliveries in North America are projected to rise only modestly over the next decade, while other regions are accelerating faster. The focus for manufacturers, charter providers, and infrastructure developers is increasingly turning outward.
The numbers highlight this trend. Forecasts suggest about 8,700 new business jets will be delivered worldwide in the next ten years. More than half will go to North America, but the share going to Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa is rising each year.
For operators, this means North America remains steady, but the most dynamic changes in the business aviation environment are happening elsewhere.
Asia-Pacific: Rebound and Expansion
Fleet and Flight Activity
Asia-Pacific has entered a rebound phase. After several years of stagnation following 2020, the regional business jet fleet grew by more than one percent in 2024, reaching over 1,150 aircraft. Australia and India led in fleet additions, while Southeast Asia added more than a dozen jets in a single year.
Flight activity followed the same trend. In Singapore, business jet departures from Changi and Seletar airports were nearly 30 percent higher in 2023 than in 2019. Fractional ownership models, charter flights, and corporate operations all reported utilization gains. Flying hours were up by more than 40 percent compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Market Size and Growth
The Asia-Pacific aviation market is projected to grow by almost nine percent annually, from around USD 105 billion in 2025 to more than USD 160 billion by 2030. Within that broad growth, business aviation is expected to outpace the global average, expanding by more than two percent each year compared to a global rate closer to one percent.
This growth reflects the broader rise of wealth in the region. The number of high-net-worth individuals in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia is increasing quickly. Many of these individuals and corporations are seeking the flexibility and reach that business aviation provides.
Shifting Hubs
China was once the undisputed center of business aviation in Asia. Its fleet accounted for a third of all regional aircraft at its peak. That picture has changed. China’s fleet has shrunk by roughly a third since 2017, reflecting regulatory headwinds and slowing demand.
In contrast, India has become one of the fastest-growing markets. Its business jet fleet has grown by nearly 25 percent since 2019. Australia and Japan have also expanded steadily. Southeast Asia, though smaller in absolute terms, is showing some of the fastest percentage growth.
China’s private jet fleet declined by ~33% since 2017, while the rest of Asia‑Pacific grew by ~20%, led by India’s ~25% rise. Source: Reuters
Infrastructure Investment
Governments and private investors across the region are responding by investing in new infrastructure. Singapore has expanded Seletar Aerospace Park into a dedicated hub for business aviation and aerospace services. Malaysia’s Subang Airport reopened to business jet services in 2024, with a multibillion-dollar program aimed at doubling its capacity by 2030. The Philippines has invested heavily in Clark International Airport, including a major new hangar project to support long-range business jet traffic.
Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are also making investments, ranging from expanded terminals to upgraded runways capable of handling larger aircraft. These moves are critical to supporting the rising number of departures across the region.
Middle East and Africa: Building Hubs and Connecting Remote Regions
Middle East Hubs
The Middle East has long been a crossroads for intercontinental travel. But it is now establishing itself as a business aviation hub in its own right. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are equipped with modern FBOs, dedicated terminals, and long runways suited for ultra-long-range jets.
Saudi Arabia is taking this further. The NEOM development includes major new airport infrastructure. These projects are designed to serve not only commercial aviation but also business and private aviation. Riyadh and Jeddah are also expanding their general aviation facilities alongside massive commercial expansions.
Africa’s Emerging Markets
Africa presents a different dynamic. Here, business aviation is not only a luxury but often a necessity. Commercial aviation connectivity remains limited in many regions, and business aviation fills the gap. Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and Cairo are the primary centers today, but smaller markets are opening as well.
Natural resource industries such as oil, gas, and mining are central drivers. Operations in remote areas require reliable air links, and business aviation provides them. Corporate operators, charter companies, and governments all rely on business jets for this purpose.
Market Dynamics
The Middle East and Africa business jet market is dominated by large and long-range aircraft. Nearly all deliveries in recent years have been large-cabin jets. The preference reflects both the distances involved and the nature of demand: high-net-worth individuals, government agencies, and corporations needing long-haul capability.
Strategic Moves
Airlines are also expanding their footprint in the region. Qatar Airways has invested heavily in African carriers, enhancing connectivity in underserved areas. Similar moves are being made by other Middle Eastern airlines looking to capture growth in Africa.
Infrastructure Development
Infrastructure is uneven across the region but improving. In Africa, projects in Nairobi, Lagos, and smaller cities include apron expansions, hangars, and upgraded terminals. In the Middle East, dedicated business aviation terminals and zones are increasingly common.
India and Southeast Asia: Infrastructure Meets Demand
India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. Its government has invested in connectivity programs aimed at expanding service to smaller cities. More than one hundred airports have been built or upgraded in the last decade. Many of these airports can handle business aviation, creating new possibilities for operators.
Private aviation in India is supported by growing corporate demand, expanding wealth, and infrastructure investment. The country is also making early commitments to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which will shape its long-term growth trajectory.
Charter activity in Southeast Asia is rising both for leisure (to Phuket, Bali, and Palawan) and for business (Jakarta and Manila), signaling an expanding charter market.
Broader Trends and Global Context
The regional shifts occur within a global context of rising demand and constrained supply. Asia-Pacific is projected to contribute more than half of all growth in global aviation in 2025, while Europe accounts for about a quarter.
Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing aviation region in 2025—about 9% growth in passenger traffic, accounting for 52% of global expansion—while maintaining high load factors. Source: IATA Economics, Asia-Pacific Is the Engine of Growth in 2025, June 6 2025.
Global aviation revenue is forecast to exceed 1 trillion USD in 2025. Business aviation is a small fraction of that total, but the trends affecting airlines also shape the business jet environment. Fleet constraints, maintenance backlogs, and delivery delays are common challenges.
Sustainability is another factor. Commitments to sustainable aviation fuel are spreading across regions. While adoption is uneven, the trend is clear: operators will face growing expectations to use SAF where available.
What This Means for Operators and APG
For operators, the landscape is changing quickly. Flights that once were concentrated in a few core markets are now spread across emerging hubs worldwide. Infrastructure is being built, but it is uneven. Regulations vary by country, and permitting can be complex.
Aircraft Performance Group supports operators in this evolving environment through its global flight planning and performance tools. Accurate charts and plates, paired with advanced performance modeling, enable operators to plan safely and efficiently into both the world’s largest airports and its most remote locations.
Whether the destination is Singapore, Riyadh, Nairobi, or a secondary city in India, operators need reliable support. As the market expands geographically, the value of integrated, trusted planning tools only grows.
Conclusion
The global business aviation market is expanding, but the distribution of that growth is shifting. North America remains the largest market, but Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and underserved regions are driving much of the new activity.
These shifts are visible not only in aircraft deliveries but in flight activity, infrastructure investment, and emerging hubs. Airports are being upgraded, new facilities are being built, and operators are adjusting to new patterns of demand.
For decision-makers in aviation, the message is clear. The future of business aviation will be more geographically diverse, more infrastructure-driven, and more reliant on global planning tools than ever before.