Central and Eastern Europe have seen pockets of strong growth of late, according to private aircraft brokerage Colibri Aircraft. The UK-based company noted the region’s business aircraft fleet has grown by 16 percent since 2016, from 148 to 172 aircraft, and now comprises 7.6 percent of Europe’s entire fleet.

Colibri described the Czech Republic as experiencing the biggest surge, up 41 percent in that period to 62 aircraft, followed by Poland, which from a smaller starting point has tallied a 37.5 percent increase. Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary all saw increases of at least 10 percent.

While Europe’s overall 2019 departures for business aircraft have averaged a 1.7 percent decline, Romania has seen a boost of nearly 20 percent, while Serbia, Slovenia, and Slovakia also posted increases.

“In recent years, economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe has consistently exceeded that of the Eurozone,” said Colibri sales director Marian Jancarik, adding some countries in the region are now vibrant market economies, fully immersed in the European supply chains. “It is the European Union’s fastest-growing region, and this has resulted in strong growth in its business aviation market.”