Business aircraft flying in Europe inched up last month, thanks to a 3-percent gain in jet activity that outweighed declines in the turboprop and piston segments, according to data released yesterday by WingX Advance. There were 58,111 business aviation departures in the region last month, up 0.8 percent from a year ago, though the year-to-date trend is still trailing 2015 by 0.2 percent. However, business jet flights in Europe now have a positive 12-month rolling average, with light jet activity propelling most of this growth.

Flights from Western Europe rose last month, bolstered by growth in the UK, France and Italy, compensating for losses in Germany, Switzerland and Spain, it said. Activity in Southern Europe was flat last month, while that in Eastern Europe fell slightly. Declines in Turkey and Russia have bottomed and are down 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively. WingX said there was “substantial growth” last month in the Nordics, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

“Business aviation activity was down at the top airports last month, including Le Bourget, Geneva and, especially, Farnborough,” the company noted. Nice was an exception, with 15-percent year-over-year growth in departures.