June was the busiest month of the year for business aviation activity in Europe, with 87,236 departures, but still continued the trend of year-over-year declines, according to the latest WingX Business Aviation Monitor. Departures for the month marked a 1.7 percent year-over-year decrease.

“All but one month this year so far have seen declines in flight activity compared to last year, with the first half of 2019 some 2 percent down on 2018,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe.

Turboprop activity saw the biggest drop in June, down 6 percent, while the number of business jet flights slid 2 percent. Charter activity remained flat, but owner flights declined. Small and midsize jet activity combined for a 3.9 percent decline.

However, large jet flights continued growth, up 3.4 percent. Activity in France also strengthened, with departures up 4 percent year-over-year, and Spain experienced a 9 percent year-over-year increase. The same was not true in the UK, which experienced a 6 percent decline in business aviation activity, and in Germany, where flights dropped by 11 percent.

While business aviation traffic was off 2 percent within Europe in June, flights to North America were up 5 percent and to Latin America 23 percent year-over-year.

June’s results overall, said Koe, “Clearly…reflects the gloomier macroeconomic picture, with Germany´s economic slowdown and the UK's Brexit chaos reflected in significant declines in flight activity from both countries.”

He added the charter market “is up for grabs in the next two months” with operators hoping for growth in summer travel spots such as Mykonos, Ibiza, and Nice.