As more customers use WINGX data with AI tools and automated reporting, consistent and traceable operator identities matter more than ever. On 16 October 2026, we are releasing an update to our data that strengthens our existing process for identifying the operator of every flight. To learn how this supports AI tools, see Start here
Applied across our full history
We ran every flight from January 2019 to September 2026 through the enhanced process: 287 million flights, 606 million flight hours and 55,900 named operators. History is updated consistently, so trends stay comparable over time.
More evidence behind every name
Our process already combined several sources. Each operator name is now confirmed against four independent sources:
- Our operator master and the ICAO designator list (by callsign)
- JetNet and the aircraft registry (by aircraft registration)
The name most sources agree on is used. Where they differ, reviewed rules and our analysts decide. Every name carries a record of the sources and steps behind it, so any attribution can be traced and explained. For 65% of Business Aviation fuel, at least two sources agree or an analyst has confirmed the name.
What you will notice
- One spelling per operator. Legal endings (Inc, LLC, GmbH …) and spelling variants are harmonised.
- Operators shown at the level that flies the aircraft. For example: VistaJet by AOC (Malta, America, Germany), United Express flights under SkyWest Airlines, and Ryanair Group flights under Malta Air, Buzz and Lauda Europe.
- More aircraft carry a named operator.
- Refined handling of government and military callsigns. For example, US Navy training flights at Corpus Christi and Japan’s flight-inspection aircraft now appear under their government operators.
- Refined operator types and groups. Market sectors follow the operator, so scheduled airlines now appear under Scheduled Operation. Business Aviation continues to be defined by aircraft (jets and turboprops).
Trends stay consistent
Total flights, hours and fuel are unchanged. The same rules are applied to every year since 2019, so trends remain like-for-like. 88% of fuel keeps its operator name, and in Business Aviation 87.5% of fuel stays with the same or a more precisely identified operator.
Business Aviation flight hours grew 1.7% in January–September 2026 against the same months of 2025. This is the same figure before and after the release. With refined operator types, the split by type now reflects what each operator actually does:
| Operator type | Current types | Refined types |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft management | +2.4% | +5.0% |
| Fractional ownership | +10.0% | +10.2% |
| Private flight departments | +6.2% | +4.9% |
| Branded charter | −3.1% | −0.4% |
| Corporate flight departments | −9.5% | −6.5% |
Year-on-year change in Business Aviation flight hours, January–September 2026 vs 2025.
The share of hours by type moves only slightly. The five largest types cover 84% of Business Aviation hours today and 86% after the release.
What this means for you
- Some familiar operator names change, and their full history since 2019 moves with them.
- Please review saved filters, dashboards and alerts that use specific operator names or operator types.
- Operator groups (for example Vista Global, Ryanair Holdings) let you see related operators together.
- On request, we provide an old-to-new name map for the operators you follow.
Ongoing review
Operator names are reviewed on an ongoing basis. If you have a question about an operator you follow, please let us know. We can also walk you through the changes for your operators in a short call.