EVA’s first look at changes and developments in the global FBO market
Asia
ExecuJet, Indira Ghandi International Airport, India
ExecuJet’s FBO facility in New Delhi, India has gained International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS‑BAH) Stage 1 accreditation. A joint venture between ExecuJet and Bird Group Aviation Services, the facility is located at Indira Ghandi International Airport and features a VVIP salon with five-star amenities, crew lounge area and high-tech business centre.
Europe
Skylink Services, Larnaca, Cyprus
Skylink Services’ Larnaca FBO has become the first dedicated facility in Cyprus to receive IS-BAH Stage 1 Certification.
Access Oslo Executive Handling, Oslo, Norway
Access Oslo Executive Handling, the FBO at Oslo airport, has become the first facility in the Nordic region awarded IS-BAH certification.
London Biggin Hill Airport, UK
London Biggin Hill Airport says work on its new 60,000sqft hangar, 10,000sqft office block and 70,000sqft of additional ramp space is on track for completion in time for Christmas, with spaces in the development now available to rent ahead of the December opening.
The hangar will accommodate six Gulfstream G650 or Bombardier Global 7000 aircraft. The new facilities will contribute towards the airport’s ambitious target of creating 2,300 new jobs by 2030.
TAG Farnborough Airport, London, UK
TAG Farnborough Airport reports a significant growth in air traffic movements with a year-on-year increase of 5.6% in 2017 to date and a record 8.2% for the month of September alone. The airport handles approximately 25,000 flights per annum, with approval to increase to 50,000 by 2019.
TAG Aviation, Geneva, Switzerland
TAG Aviation hosted The Caps Collection, a summer exhibition of contemporary art, by local street artist Joule Champod, at its Geneva FBO.
Adeline Varéon, Marketing and Communications Manager, TAG Aviation Europe, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Joule Champod. TAG has always been keen to further its strong links with contemporary art and particularly when we can help promote the works of a Geneva-based artist who shares the same roots as the TAG brand.”
ExecuJet and Airport St Gallen-Altenrhein, Altenrhein International Airport, Switzerland
ExecuJet is to co-manage the FBO facility at Switzerland’s Altenrhein International Airport after entering a partnership with Airport St Gallen-Altenrhein. Airport St Gallen-Altenrhein will continue to manage the facility on a day-to-day basis, with the wider support of ExecuJet’s universal standards for customer service and safety.
ExecuJet’s worldwide FBO network now stands at 25, with facilities in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Jet Aviation, Basel, Switzerland
Jet Aviation has broken ground on a new widebody hangar project at Basel. The 8,700m2 state-of-the-art hangar is scheduled to become operational at the end of 2018.
Weston Aviation, UK and Ireland
For the second year running, Weston Aviation, the UK- and Ireland-based FBO and business aviation services company has won the prestigious Best FBO/Ground Handler Award at the annual BACA – The Air Charter Association Awards, held at the Guildhall in the City of London. The award is voted for by the BACA membership, formed of charter brokers, aircraft operators, airport authorities and support companies.
Weston Aviation operates business aviation centres at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Cornwall Airport Newquay, Humberside Airport and Cork Airport, Ireland
Latin America
Jetex and CFLY Aviation, São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, Brazil
Jetex Flight Support and Brazilian operator CFLY Aviation have won a tender to develop and manage a new private terminal and FBO at São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU/SBGR), Brazil, over the next 15 years.
The partnership venture reflects the growing importance of business aviation in the region, and further extends Jetex’s footprint in Latin America, which includes Toluca, Mexico and Santiago, Chile.
General aviation aircraft currently share the main terminal at GRU with commercial airlines. The Jetex/CFLY venture aims to provide greater access and convenience for corporate, governmental and private flights, through the development of a dedicated private terminal. Housing a Jetex-branded FBO, this new facility will offer a full spectrum of ground handling services. These will include 24/7 trip support services, among them entry and landing permits, fuelling, passenger and crew transportation arrangements, on board catering and bespoke concierge services. CFLY Aviation will manage aircraft parking and storage.
Crew and passengers flying into the terminal will benefit from direct ramp access, with aircraft parking in front of the terminal, crew and executive lounges, and meeting rooms. Future plans include on-site customs and immigration, and a heliport.
Signature, Mexico City Toluca International Airport
Signature Flight Support has welcomed a first Mexican FBO to its global network. Signature has added the FBO to its portfolio through a licensing deal with Fly Across, a service provider at Mexico City Toluca International.
The $17 million FBO opened in January 2016, with talks regarding a brand takeover by Signature beginning immediately.
Middle East
ExecuJet, Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai
ExecuJet’s Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) FBOs have gained IS-BAH Stage 1 accreditation.
All FBOs in the ExecuJet network meet NATA Safety First standards, and with the addition of the Dubai facilities, seven are now IS-BAH accredited. Brussels and New Delhi gained Stage 1 accreditation this year, while in September, ExecuJet’s Zürich facility became the first FBO in Switzerland to gain IS-BAH Stage 2 accreditation.
ExecuJet has also announced its intention to relocate its entire Dubai FBO and MRO operations to a single facility at Dubai South’s Al Maktoum International Airport. Construction of the facility is due to commence in early 2018, with an estimated completion date set for the end of 2019, in time for Dubai Expo 2020.
The brand new 25,700m2 facility will be ExecuJet’s regional HQ for the Middle East, home to an FBO, MRO services with 13,800m2 of on-site hangar floor space, and associated ExecuJet support services offices. The FBO and MRO line teams currently in place at DWC will continue to provide maintenance support 12 hours a day, seven days a week, supported by a 24‑hour AOG hotline.
Jet Aviation, Dubai South
Jet Aviation and joint venture partner the Al Mulla Business Group, opened a new FBO facility in the shared terminal at Dubai South during the 2017 Dubai Airshow.
Jetex, Muscat and Salalah International Airport, Oman
Jetex is proud to have been appointed as the first and exclusive FBO for Muscat and Salalah International Airport, Oman, ushering in a new era for Omani business aviation.
North America
Gary Jet Center, Gary/Chicago International Airport, Illinois
Gary Jet Center has opened a Corporate Flight Center as part of its Gary/Chicago International Airport (KGYY) FBO. The 8,300sqft building features a luxurious glass-walled lobby, an espresso bar and unobstructed views of the recently expanded 9,000ft runway.
Signature, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, New Hampshire
Signature Flight Support, in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection, and the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, has introduced customs and immigration services within its Manchester terminal building, enabling expedited entry into the US and swift landside transfers.
Phillips 66 Aviation, US
Phillips 66 Aviation has announced the addition of 16 FBOs to its network:
Alexander Municipal Airport, servicing Belen, New Mexico; Central Iowa Air Service, servicing Ames, Iowa; Chaffee County Airport, servicing Salida, Colorado; City of Lamesa, servicing Lamesa, Texas; Constant Aviation Orlando, servicing Sanford, Florida; Elliott Aviation, servicing Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Executive Aviation, servicing Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Flying Cloud Fuel SVC LLC, servicing Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Lane Aviation Corporation, servicing Columbus, Ohio; Marion County Regional Airport, servicing Flippin, Arkansas; Oasis Aero, servicing Willmar, Minnesota; Saline County Regional, servicing Bryant, Arizona; Shelby County Airport Landing Field, servicing Shelbyville, Illinois; Skypark Inc, servicing Wadsworth, Ohio; Town of Bloomsburg, servicing Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; and West Memphis Municipal Airport, servicing West Memphis, Arkansas.