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Page 08-09 28/8/08 5:35 pm Page 8 8 SEPTEMBER 2008 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS Stars of music and sport play key role in demand-led expansion Europe’s political leaders fear recession-inspired business cutbacks but stars from the world of music and sport and vips are among those sustaining demand for expanded FBO services. The Aviación General y Ejecutiva Aerea (AEREA) FBO based in Malaga, which reports strong interest in its new business centre, recently welcomed Bon Jovi through its vip access. The facility is also used by Julio Iglesias when he travels to Málaga after concerts. “AEREA offers the vip facility to all its clients not just famous musicians,” says FBO manager Yolanda Ávalos. She adds: “We are also making the business centre’s services widely available. It will be open to both executive and general aviation users as well as entrepreneurs and local professionals.” The business centre is scheduled to open ready for the winter season and will be operated along the lines of a special event lounge with capacity for 200. The FBO also offers two vip lounges, equipped with satellite TV and wi-fi and a helicopter shuttle service between Malaga airport and clients' final destinations. “We are experiencing high demand for the new crew lounge,” Ávalos adds. “A third passenger lounge is planned in the near future and, with the new crew lounge already in operation, we will be well placed to service our clients' expanding needs. Our range of services is, in fact, constantly expanding to keep up with demand from the executive aviation sector.” A new FBO has recently begun operations in Shannon Airport Ireland. US Alliance Flight Support which began full operations this summer, reports increasing business. And, in Germany, Munich’s MES Handling, which came fourth in overall in EBAN’s 2008 FBO survey results, has been taken over by Signature Flight Support. The former MES management team, led by Oliver Trono and Klaus Besold, will be staying with Signature’s first FBO operation in Germany and its 22nd base worldwide. David Best, md Europe, Middle East and Africa, for Signature Flight Support Europe, says: “Munich is a key and growing destination for Elevated Knowledge AEREA executive David España with Bon Jovi who used the FBO's vip access. Departing and arriving passengers can go directly to and from the lounge without going through the terminal. Keflavik Shannon London Copenhagen City Pembrey Moscow Munich Malaga business aircraft operations.” The Avitat network expects to exceed its target to grow the number of European and Middle East members to 12 during 2009. “We are currently anticipating growth up to 14 or 15 members,” says Joseph Fish, business development manager, Avitat and ExxonMobil. “I think it is Know More. 800.553.8638 +1.315.797.4420 JETNET.COM Worldwide leader in aviation market intelligence. FBO FOCUS Dubai Al Bateen fair to say that business levels amongst the members is increasing as reflected by the increased volumes for Jet A-1 amongst the Avitat members. However, Avgas fuel volume sales continue to decrease as more of the Avitat customers are increasingly using jet fuel aircraft.” In the U.K. the all-weather 24-hour privately-owned Pembrey airport is gearing up for increased demand following its runway extension. “For sporting enthusiasts, the airport offers the fastest, most direct route to the adjoining Pembrey Motor Circuit, home of Welsh motor sports, and also to the nearby Jack Nicklaus golf course,” says md Capt. Winston Thomas. “It is also just only three miles from Ffos Las, the UK’s first dedicated equestrian training and sport centre, now in its initial development phase.” The 600-acre, multi-million pound amenity will include a hotel, pub, restaurant and up to 250 homes and the new National Hunt racecourse already has 16 British Horse Racing Board meetings scheduled for 2009. Pembrey’s runway extension of 1,148 ft takes its total length to 3,780 ft. It also offers a passenger terminal and restaurant, extensive free parking, aircraft hangars and extensive hardstanding. Southair Iceland has moved to a Germany's FAI rent-a-jet is offering customers a courtesy shuttle by chauffeur-driven Maybach at Munich and Nuernberg airports. "We always want to offer just a little bit more than the competition," says Siegfried Axtmann, ceo. Greysof London Ltd Chauffeur Services Wyndham London, Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XG Tel : 08701 909 321 info@greysoflondon.com • www.greysoflondon.com Oliver Trono and Klaus Besold are general managers of Signature’s Munich facility. new location at Keflavik. It has opened a new GA terminal on what is known as the ‘East Ramp.’ The company says the facility caters for all sizes of aircraft and is accessible from both the S1 and N1 taxi-ways. The company has recently been acquired from Atlanta Icelandic by the former manager of Southair David Johannsson, now the ceo of Southair Iceland. But high fuel prices continue to raise issues. Swissport International, which started applying a separate fuel surcharge of up to two per cent under its current contractual agreements as from the middle of June, summed up the realities. “Despite all the internal cost efforts and significant endeavours on all levels Swissport is obliged to make this increase in response to the continued steep rises in fuel prices.” Swissport said it was following an unfortunate but general, industry trend. “Most airlines are suffering from higher fuel prices and have passed on some of these costs to their passengers in the form of fuel surcharges added to their fares. Swissport operates thousands of vehicles and energy generating facilities all over the world and these, too, have seen their fuel costs rise by up to 50 per cent over the past few months.” The precise details of the new surcharge for the company’s products, services and tariffs that involve fuel/energy depending activities will be determined and implemented locally by Swissport’s various stations around the world. Meanwhile ExecuJet is opening a new representative office in Moscow as part of European and global expansion. “Two sales Royal Jet’s new commercial vp eyes expansion Abu Dhabi-based Royal Jet is putting a major focus on expanding its operations outside its core Middle East business base. New vp, commercial, John Morgan, says the company has restructured and expanded its sales operations. “It is now analysing revenue, pricing and yield management, and looking at the whole gamut of tactical marketing across Royal Jet’s services with an eye on spreading the company’s dominance of the private jet industry further afield.” Royal Jet, by HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, is targeting business in countries including Russia. Morgan says: “Royal Jet is enjoying a major increase in its market share in the up and coming regions of Asia, Europe and Africa and we will be working to ensure that continues.”
Page 08-09 28/8/08 5:39 pm Page 9 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS Avitat puts a strong emphasis on its members meeting regularly. The photo shows (left to right): Dogan Ilter, ExxonMobil Aviation general aviation manager, Europe, Africa and the Middle East: Prajeet Parepatambil, Royal Jet (Avitat Abu Dhabi), head of vendor standards; and Caroline Pennington, ExxonMobil Aviation, sales territory manager, U.K. and the Middle East. representatives have been appointed to head up ExecuJet’s new office to support a booming market where three to four business jets are being delivered each month,” says ExecuJet Europe md Peter Hartmann. “Moscow activity will centre around sales of the spn and the Aerion SBJ.” ExecuJet manages more than 110 business jets worldwide and its managed aircraft fleet has grown over the past six months to over 55 aircraft, with new arrivals being based at Copenhagen Roskilde, Berlin Schönefeld in Germany and at ExecuJet’s latest base at London City Airport where a Falcon 900 has just been registered under its new U.K. AOC. At Berlin Schönefeld, ExecuJet is busy expanding its FBO facility with a new vip passenger lounge and enhanced facilities ready for completion in October. “The 24 employees will be looking after up to eight managed aircraft this year,” says Hartmann. In the Middle East Palm Aviation is setting up a handling facility at Aviation City which is part of Dubai World Central. DWC, home to the largest maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) Gorka Ruíz, David España and Antonia Sánchez airside in Malaga. centre in the world, has signed a deal with Palm Aviation to set up the project’s first FBO. The 80,000 square foot facility will be designed to cater to the flight support services industry in the 140 square kilometre DWC urban aviation project under construction at Jebel Ali. Under the agreement, Palm Aviation will extend its existing global flight support operations centre to DWC Aviation City from its existing Dubai airport free zone office. “This is part of our expansion strategy which will see the company grow by 35 per cent annually over the next five years across the region,” says Khalid Al Mutawa, chairman. Abdullah Al Quraishi, ceo, DWC Aviation City says: “DWC will be home to the world's largest MRO providers, largely due to the strategic aviation services offerings to third parties The FlyMeNow.co.uk team (left to right) includes operations manager Rick Beasley, commercial director Andrew Whitney and sales manager Barnes Hawkins. setting up their regional operations within our projects. The aviation sector is expected to grow at more than 30 per cent annually for the coming five years and the impressive growth of over nine per cent for the Middle East MRO market is expected to continue over the same period.” Abu Dhabi’s Royal Jet has welcomed Abu Dhabi Airports Company’s (ADAC) plan to set up the Middle East’s first dedicated executive airport. ADAC is to invest US $54.4 million in transforming the Al Bateen military base into an exclusive corporate jet facility. Shane O’Hare, president and ceo, Royal Jet, says: “Al Bateen’s location just 10 kilometres from the capital’s diplomatic and business centres will be a compelling advantage for our strong corporate client base and we are now working with the relevant authorities to assess our operational requirements for Al Bateen.” Sahlee Fajutagana says United Aviation Services (UAS), headquartered in Dubai, is enjoying rapid expansion, accelerated by the success of its new headquarters complex in the Dubai airport free zone. U.K. ‘relies on aircraft from Europe’ U.K. broker FlyMeNow.co.uk, planning international expansion to reflect growth in sectors including concert tours and medical repatriation, is reporting a requirement in the U.K. for a number of new or nearly new aircraft catering for around half-adozen passengers. “We have sought these, including the CJ1, CJ2+ and Learjet 40XR from European operators and have had tremendous feedback from clientele no longer happy to accept older aircraft,” says Andrew Whitney, commercial director, says. The company, which plans to open a new office abroad by the first quarter of 2009, is currently recruiting experienced air charter professionals. Air BP. The fuel supplier that never sleeps Dedicated Air BP teams around the globe work 24/7 to meet your needs. So wherever and whenever you land within our network, it’s good to know Air BP. For further information on Air BP’s Sterling Card contact: +44 1442 225866, e-mail sterling@bp.com. Air BP Out of Hours Service +971 4220 0144, e-mail airbpoutofhours@bp.com www.airbp.com the people on the ground who keep you in the air SEPTEMBER 2008 9 air
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