Australia and New Zealand Business Aviation Market Insight

January to February 2026

Business aviation activity across Australia and New Zealand started 2026 with strong momentum, reflecting the region’s continued reliance on aviation for corporate mobility, regional connectivity, and industry operations.

According to data from the Avi-Go database, the ANZ market recorded more than 18,000 business aviation departures during the first two months of the year. January accounted for the majority of movements as corporate travel resumed after the holiday season and operational flights linked to mining and energy projects remained active across Australia.

Activity moderated slightly in February, which is typical following the early-year travel peak. Even so, overall traffic levels suggest a healthy start to 2026 for the region’s business aviation sector.

Australia Continues to Dominate Regional Activity

Airport traffic patterns clearly show that Australia drives the majority of business aviation movements across the ANZ region.

Adelaide Airport recorded the highest number of departures during the period, followed closely by Bankstown Airport near Sydney. Bankstown continues to serve as one of the country’s most important hubs for charter and private aviation, offering operators greater flexibility compared with Sydney’s primary commercial airport.

Other active airports include Brisbane, Jandakot near Perth, and Essendon in Melbourne. The presence of these airports among the busiest locations highlights the importance of secondary metropolitan airports, which often provide faster turnaround times and easier access for business aviation operators.

In New Zealand, Auckland remains the country’s leading gateway for corporate and private aviation traffic. While the New Zealand market is smaller in scale, Auckland continues to support a steady level of international and domestic business aviation activity.

Regional airports such as Broome and Townsville also appear among the busiest locations. Their presence reflects the influence of Australia’s resource industry, where aviation plays a critical role in connecting remote mining and energy operations with major urban centers.

Figure 1. Top business aviation airports in Australia and New Zealand by departures (January to February 2026). Source: Avi-Go Database.

Turboprops Form the Backbone of the Market

Fleet activity across the region reflects the geographic realities of Australia and New Zealand. Turboprop aircraft account for the majority of operations, representing nearly three quarters of all flights recorded during the period.

These aircraft are particularly well suited for the region’s operating environment. Their ability to operate efficiently on shorter sectors and access remote or smaller airfields makes them essential for regional connectivity and industrial logistics.

Light jets represent the second largest share of activity and are commonly used for corporate travel between major Australian cities. Meanwhile, midsize and heavy jets continue to support longer corporate missions, including international travel across the Pacific and connections to Asia.

Ultra long range aircraft also appear in the dataset, highlighting the presence of intercontinental business aviation activity linking Oceania with North America and other global business centers.

Figure 2. Business aviation fleet activity by aircraft category in Australia and New Zealand (January to February 2026). Source: Avi-Go Database.

A Market Defined by Geography and Industry

The early 2026 data reinforces several long-standing characteristics of the ANZ business aviation market.

First, the region depends heavily on aircraft capable of connecting remote locations, which explains the strong presence of turboprop operations. Second, secondary airports remain essential infrastructure for business aviation, allowing operators to maintain efficiency while serving major economic centers.

Together, these factors illustrate how geography, industry demand, and long-distance travel continue to shape business aviation across Australia and New Zealand. As the year progresses, these structural drivers are likely to remain central to aviation activity throughout the region.

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