Business aviation departures in Europe rose 1.7 percent year-over-year last month, thanks to a “big increase” in piston traffic, according to the latest data from WingX Advance. Business jet activity was down by 1.3 percent for the month, while charter activity fell 1.6 percent, it said.

“The overall trend in business aviation activity, up 2 percent year-over-year, camouflages a significant underlying decline in business jet activity, across all the top markets except Germany, with notably large falls in large-cabin jet activity out of Spain and light to midsize cabin activity from the UK,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “These declines are most obvious in charter activity. This year’s falling trend in business jet charters reflects softer demand in the context of weaker economic growth and heightened political risk across Europe.”

WingX also noted a “major slump” in business jet activity out of Russia and Turkey, which were down 15 percent and 20 percent year-over-year, respectively. In fact, business jet departures from Moscow Vnukovo Airport have dropped 16 percent year-to-date versus a year ago, it said.

Business aviation flights within Europe climbed 2 percent last month, while arrivals into Europe from North America and Africa increased more than 15 percent. But these trends were offset by decline of almost 20 percent in flights from Asia-Pacific and a 9 drop from the CIS region, according to WingX.