Average quarterly flight utilization for business aircraft has exceeded the 30-hour mark for the first time in a decade, according to the latest business aviation index from aircraft maintenance plan provider JSSI. During the second quarter, average per-aircraft utilization reached 30.35 hours; year-to-date average flight hours are up 4.6 percent, it said.

“As we entered the summer season, one of the strongest periods of the year for flight activity, we fully expected to see an increase in aircraft utilization,” noted JSSI president and CEO Neil Book. “However, the continued growth this year has been exceptional. It’s also encouraging to report that average flight hours for the quarter exceeded 30 hours for the first time since 2008.”

Of the nine industries using business aircraft analyzed by JSSI, seven reported an increase in quarter-over-quarter flight activity. The growth was primarily driven by the business services sector, which saw a 15.8 percent quarter-over-quarter increase. This was followed by the aviation sector, up 11.3 percent, and consumer goods, up 7.7 percent. Real estate and construction business aircraft users saw flight activity decreases of 7.4 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

All seven world regions reported increases in year-over-year flight activity, according to JSSI. Europe topped that growth, climbing 13.3 percent year-over-year, while Asia-Pacific was not far behind with a 12.6 percent rise. North American flight hours increased 2.4 percent year-over-year.