Private Jet Deliveries Set to Rise 12% Globally in 2025, With Flow-On Impact for Australia
Around 90 percent of private aviation operators anticipate flying more hours in 2025 than they did in 2024, based on a recent survey from Honeywell’s Global Business Aviation Outlook. At the same time, business jet deliveries are projected to rise by 12 percent over the year. That is the steepest expected increase since 2019, and it marks a strong vote of confidence in both manufacturing stability and customer demand.
Industry stakeholders are pointing to the resilience of domestic business travel and the shift in perception around private flying. Where it was once seen as exclusive, it is now increasingly viewed as a necessary option for time-sensitive missions and regional connectivity.
Why It Matters for Australian Travel
This forecast reflects a renewed appetite for fast, flexible travel across a country where major destinations can be separated by hours of flying time. From resource companies needing to shuttle staff between sites to time-poor executives bypassing long-haul commercial routes, Australia’s geography has always supported a niche but crucial aviation economy.
Private aviation has also stepped in to cover gaps left by shrinking commercial services in some remote areas. With fewer carriers operating regional routes post-COVID, demand has shifted to smaller, more agile operators who can serve places that no longer have reliable scheduled flights.
Deliveries Point to Long-Term Optimism
The projected 12 percent growth in deliveries does not appear to be a temporary bounce. According to manufacturers, many of these aircraft are already on order, some by first-time operators entering the market. Others are replacing older jets with more fuel-efficient models. The long lead times required to secure new aircraft make it clear that operators are not merely preparing for next year—they are investing for the rest of the decade.
Some operators are also looking beyond national borders. Australia’s proximity to Southeast Asia and the Pacific means newer jets with extended range open up routes to Jakarta, Port Moresby, and even Tokyo, positioning local fleets for international flexibility.
The Role of Regional Demand
Remote airstrips in the Northern Territory, mining hubs in Western Australia, and tourism-heavy routes along Queensland’s coast have all contributed to rising demand. Larger operators are expanding their fleets and increasing maintenance capacity, not just at major airports like Sydney and Melbourne but also in regional centres where quick access is becoming essential. This decentralised growth is helping to stabilise revenue streams and reduce risk.
Government and local council partnerships are also playing a role, particularly in northern Australia, where improved airport infrastructure has enabled year-round operations in areas previously limited by seasonal conditions.
A Supply Chain Catching Up
While delivery figures are encouraging, they also signal that the industry is finally recovering from pandemic-related bottlenecks. Component shortages, labour gaps, and delays in certification grounded many aircraft programs in 2021 and 2022. As those issues recede, manufacturers like Bombardier and Gulfstream are beginning to meet backlogged demand from Asia-Pacific clients, including those based in Australia.
Maintenance operations and parts logistics are improving as well. Major service providers are restocking and hiring again, helping to prevent delays and keep aircraft in the air longer between scheduled checks.
Charter Remains a Flexible Access Point
Although private aircraft ownership is growing, private jet charter remains a key solution for businesses and individuals who fly irregularly or need short-notice flexibility. For many Australians based outside major cities, chartering a jet provides access to essential transport without the need for long-term capital investment or scheduling constraints.
The charter market has also matured. Many operators now offer more transparent pricing and digital booking platforms, making the process more accessible and less opaque than in years past.
Environmental Pressure and Innovation
Growth has not come without scrutiny. Operators are facing increased pressure to lower emissions and justify their carbon footprint. That has led to greater investment in sustainable aviation fuel, lighter materials, and more efficient engines. Though still a small part of the market, these innovations are being driven partly by clients who now expect their travel choices to align with broader ESG commitments.
Some fleet operators are experimenting with hybrid-electric aircraft for shorter routes, though these programs remain in early stages. Noise reduction and airport impact are also gaining attention as more jets operate closer to residential areas.
Training and Talent Remain a Bottleneck
One of the key challenges facing the industry is not hardware, but people. Pilot shortages continue to be a limiting factor—especially in rural operations—while flight schools across Australia are reporting full classes but also long waiting lists. Technicians, dispatchers, and ground staff are in equally high demand. Without coordinated industry action, this human resource strain could hinder the very growth that delivery numbers suggest is coming.
Some operators are beginning to sponsor cadetships and apprenticeship programs in partnership with TAFE institutions to secure future staffing pipelines.
Investment Signals Market Maturity
Aircraft are only part of the story. Airport infrastructure, hangar space, and air traffic control upgrades are all being developed in tandem. From Archerfield in Brisbane to Jandakot in Perth, regional airports are securing private investment to keep pace with operator expansion, signalling refined systems in a maturing market.
In some cases, councils are turning to joint ventures with aviation firms to build new hangars, extend runways, or improve refuelling services—small changes that can significantly improve turnaround times and safety.
What To Watch in 2025
If current projections hold, 2025 could be the year private aviation in Australia returns to its pre-pandemic trajectory. Not just in terms of flights logged or jets delivered, but in public perception and market structure. The next twelve months will test whether optimism among operators translates into consistent, scalable service across one of the most logistically complex regions in the world.
The challenge will be balancing this momentum with regulation, sustainability, and access. Growth is coming, but the industry’s ability to absorb it smoothly is still in question.
