Hamburg, Germany-based aviation data research firm WingX Advance said there is “little to cheer about” in October’s business aviation activity in Europe, which dropped 2.1 percent year-over-year and posted the fewest number of flight hours in any October since 2006. Charter flying fell 3.5 percent last month year-over-year, with the biggest declines in business jet activity–some 800 business jet charter flights fewer, it said.

“The generally improving economic context in Europe is not yet feeding through to demand for business aviation,” noted WingX managing director Richard Koe. “There continue to be impressive growth trends in the ultra-long-range, super-midsize and very light jet segments. This appears to reflect various customer needs for intercontinental range, operating cost efficiency and low-prices for short trips. Overall the continued recession in activity shows the charter customer is still nervous.”

Despite a glum October, WingX said there were a few growth spots regionally: business aircraft flying in Portugal soared 16 percent from a year ago; Greece, 14 percent; Turkey, 3 percent; and Italy recorded a slight gain. WingX labeled the “deadweight” countries as France, down 2 percent; the UK, -3 percent; Germany, -6 percent; and Russia, -7 percent.