Business aircraft movements in Europe hit a new record in July, thanks largely to a surge in charter flights, and soaring activity levels during the FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.

According to the latest data from German company WingX Advance, Europe’s airports recorded 94,000 departures in July, marking a 2.8% increase on the previous record, achieved in June 2008 when some 91,400 departures were logged in the region.

Jet operations were the strongest performers in July, chalking-up a record 62,000 departures, the report shows, smashing a previous best of around 59,000 departures, logged in the same month last year, says WingX. Movements of turboprop- and piston-engined aircraft numbered 32,000 – around 1,000 shy of their June 2010 peak, WingX reveals.

Charter flights represented almost 60% of all activity in July, with numbers climbing by 3.9% year on year, the data indicates.