What Is Powering Business Aviation in Eastern Europe in 2025?
As private jet flights soar in Eastern Europe, Euro Jet's leading experts weigh in on the key drivers of this growth and what is to come for business aviation in 2025. From across countries and departments, Operations Control Center Manager Petra Dlabolova, her deputy Ladislav Kocarnik, Director of Sales and Marketing Gareth Danker, and Country Manager for Hungary Peter Pazurek agree: Summer 2025 will be busy.
Summer travel is set to bring a surge in private flights, particularly to the Adriatic Sea, where Split is expected to reach capacity. “As usual we expect Split to be overloaded, and we will be directing all operators to park at alternate airports,” says Ladislav.
Petra attributes this surge in summer flights to a growing trend of affluent travelers seeking new destinations.
New Investments Driving Growth in Business Aviation
Beyond leisure travel, another factor fueling aviation growth in the region is investment. With new airports, luxury resorts, and even a cutting-edge film studio in Hungary, business aviation is thriving as high-net-worth individuals, investors, and celebrities take to the skies.
“Croatia is investing heavily in their Adriatic coast infrastructure by building new hotels, upgrading yacht harbors, and slowly improving airport infrastructure to accommodate more business jets,” says Key Account Manager Attila Papai.
According to Country Manager for Albania & Kosovo Behare Hallaqi, “Aviation trends largely depend on ongoing events in Europe, with traffic driven by economic growth in specific countries, attracting more business jets that fly international investors into our countries.”
Her colleague in Hungary agrees. Peter Pazurek is forecasting increased traffic for the 2025 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. “We expect even more investment in the region,” he says. “We are ready for any economic development that will happen in any of our core locations.”
Albania’s Tourism Boom
A great example is Albania, which is experiencing substantial investments in its tourism and airport infrastructure. “New resorts are popping up, especially in Albania, so I see that region really developing,” says Gareth. “Plus, there will be a new airport opening in Albania in Vlore.”
Ladislav also noted the impact of Albania’s new resorts. He says, “as a proper reaction to the new developments, the Tirana Airport apron is being reconstructed to be able to handle more flights.”
From the ramp, Behare and her team of ground service coordinators in Albania and Kosovo are seeing the increase in customers firsthand. “The Tirana Airport recently welcomed its ten millionth passenger, setting its position as the largest and fastest-growing airport in the Balkans,” says Behare. “It is expanding its runway to accommodate its first transatlantic flights, with the inaugural route expected to be between Tirana and New York City.”
Hungary’s Film Industry is Taking Off
Albania is not the only country seeing major investment in aviation infrastructure. While its new resorts and airport developments are driving an increase in private jet traffic, Hungary is also experiencing growth—but for a different reason. With a new state-of-the-art film studio near Budapest, the country is poised to become a hub for international film productions. Attila anticipates this will draw a lot of celebrity flights.
“Hungary has the second largest filming facilities in Europe after London,” says Peter Pazurek. “With one of the biggest sound stages in the world, Korda Studios is a state-of-the-art film studio complex located 30 kilometrers (18 miles) west of Budapest in the wine-making village of Etyek.”
Optimizing Operations and Addressing Challenges
As air travel evolves, so do the challenges of ensuring smooth operations. From securing reliable parking options to navigating fuel requirements and adapting to new travel regulations, Euro Jet’s professionals are focused on optimizing logistics for business aviation.
The Summer Parking Dilemma
Parking can be a major challenge, especially in the summer in countries like Croatia and Albania. One thing that Ladislav is anticipating, “and I believe that all operators are also waiting for: will the Croatian CAA decide to open a western apron in Dubrovnik. If this happens, we will have another great alternative airport for parking in the Adriatic area.”
Behare is particularly interested in Tirana Airport’s “addition of six new parking spaces, which will really help us with general aviation flights.” With this airport expansion, she hopes to welcome all operators according to their preferred schedules without the need for repositioning.
Attila is not so optimistic about parking near the Adriatic. “Croatia nowadays rivals France on harboring super-yachts but long-term parking for business jets is still a challenge during the summer,” he says.
The Rise of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
“There is a new type of fuel – a sustainable aviation fuel or SAF,” reports Head of Vendor Relations & Data Management Peter Olexa. SAF is a non-conventional alternative to fossil-based jet fuel.
Contract & Procurement Director Daniel Salomon adds, “as of January this year, there is a legal requirement in Europe to add 2% of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to regular jet fuel.” Currently, SAF can cost 3 to 10 times more than conventional jet fuel, though experts predict that as production scales and technology improves, these prices will become more competitive.
New Travel Regulations
Recent changes in travel regulations are also shaping business aviation in the region. “Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania are now part of the Schengen zone,” says Gareth. “This will require less customs procedures for flight traveling within the Schengen zone.”
While intra-Schengen travel is becoming more seamless, Peter Olexa predicts that flights between other destinations may soon face new requirements. “We have recently seen the UK implement Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs), a system similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in the US,” he explains. Both ETA and ESTA are automated pre-screening systems that assess travelers' eligibility before they arrive in the UK or US, respectively. A similar system for most European countries, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), is expected to be implemented soon, significantly impacting international travel.
Beyond Business: Military and Diplomatic Flights in 2025
“More people in Eastern Europe are recognizing the benefits of flying private,” says Behare, “which is driving the demand for business jets in our locations.” Alongside this rise in private aviation for business and leisure, geopolitical factors are also impacting air travel in Eastern Europe.
Military flights have increased due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “Military movements probably will remain unchanged until after summer,” says Petra. “Depending on how things develop, there may be a decrease by the end of the year.”
At the same time, diplomatic travel is expected to rise. “Given the current political situation, I foresee an increase in diplomatic flights, both within and beyond Europe,” Petra adds.
“The dramatic pivot in US politics will affect investment environments and strategies,” predicts Attila, “so I assume there will be a lot of overseas flights happening to and from the USA.”
What is Next for Business Aviation?
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, experts are keeping a close eye on emerging technologies that could reshape the market.
Daniel is particularly interested in supersonic travel, noting that “aircraft like the Overture could revolutionize air travel by flying at twice the speed of today’s commercial jets.”
Meanwhile, Peter Olexa is following the rapid evolution of drones, which are becoming more common not just in military operations, but also in commercial applications like aerial photography and infrastructure inspections. “Drones can now accomplish tasks once reserved for helicopters, and at a fraction of the cost,” he says. “Last year, I saw passenger drones on display at the NBAA Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas.”
Attila adds, “there is growth predicted for new aircraft deliveries in our region in 2025, so our business forecast is promising.”
Behare concludes, “overall, Eastern Europe's business aviation sector is on an upward path. I see it in operators’ fleets and presence, airport infrastructure improvements, and a strong market demand.”
Eastern Europe’s business aviation sector is poised for a landmark year in 2025.
Images: Euro Jet Archive, Shutterstock
