FBOs around the world

Jetex now taking over crew lounge at London Oxford Airport

Jetex, a flight-support specialist based out of Dubai is expected to take over the crew lounge at the London Oxford Airport. It will be a rebranding of the facility too. The flight-planning lounge is slated to open next month at the Oxfordjet FBO (Fixed Based Operation). "This is a strong branding partnership for our FBO as we mark the fifth birthday of Oxfordjet this year," says James Dillon-Godfray, business development director at London Oxford airport. "Jetex becomes our first external partner, which will help us further bolster our offering to new customers, in particular beyond the European region alone, especially the Middle East and the USA."

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Signature Flight Support wins bid to build FBO at Mineta San José International airport (SJC) in California. The new $82 million dollar FBO is expected to be built on the west side of the Sillicon Valley's Airport. Plans call for a "full-service" FBO, 240,000ft² (22,300m²) of hangar space, a 930m² executive terminal, a 700m² "technology garden", 2,230m² dedicated to offices and shops, and 18.5 acres (7.5ha) of ramp space, says Signature.

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Hawthorne Lakefront Airport FBO put to the test

The Hawthorne Lakefront Airport FBO in New Orleans was recently put to the test on the weekend when the Superbowl was held in the same New Orleans. The FBO is the closest airport to the Mercedes Benz Superdome where the Superbowl was held and had to handle over 150 business jets for the weekend.

The Fixed Based Operation airport offered 'touch down to touch down' VIP services to all of the business jets. "The Super Bowl weekend was a tremendous success for the FBO across the board," said Jay Taffet, Hawthorne Lakefront FBO’s general manager. "We put in long hours managing the high-volume logistics and service requirements through the weekend, but everyone at Hawthorne is thrilled that we pulled off the event with activity that exceeded our expectations, service that was applauded at every turn and industry visibility that we continue to benefit from in terms of strong momentum in aircraft arrivals weeks after the event."

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News out of AVALON in Australia...

There is news out of Australia at the AVALON 2013 show that Hawker Pacific -an Australian services and sales company- are in 'detailed discussion' with an undisclosed parter on potentially opening another FBO in China. Hawker Pacific already has one over there in operation which opened in 2010. If things go according to plan a a deal is struck, perhaps at AVALON. China seems to be the focus for Hawker Pacific's FBO plans in the near term, although India is "not off our agenda", says Alan Smith who is the Chief Executive of Hawker Pacific.

Saudia Private Aviation plots FBO expansion

Saudia Private Aviation is the business aviation services arm of Saudi Arabian Airlines. They are planning to expand their fixed-based operator (FBO) brand within the oil rich kingdom as well as internationally. So far, they have set their eyes on London, Paris and strategic US cities as potential locations in the future. SPA has an FBO in Riyadh, but is planning to build a new facility in the Saudi capital by the year2016 in accordance to the progressively expanding competition at King Khalid International airport from other resident providers Arabasco, ExecuJet/NasJet and Jet Aviation. SPA manages a fleet of 28 business aircraft and owns 10 jets (four long-range Dassault Falcon 7Xs and six light-cabin Hawker 400s).

The Porter CSeries multi billion-dollar order from Bombardier is great but it may also force Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport to these big jets. It means the airframer (Bombardier) has gained another customer that has chosen the aircraft type for flying at urban airports, which have strict noise and emissions regulations. Porter has to work alongside the Canadian government as well as the city of Toronto and the Toronto Port Authority to permit the type to fly in and out of its hub at Billy Bishop, which does not permit commercial jets now.

For those who may just be wondering what an FBO is all about and well, how they came out, this may explain it to you more simply.

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Bahrain FBO...

Bahrain is looking to put a Fix Based Operation at its International airport. Plans for the new airport have been released and business aviation is one of the key target areas, says Yousif Mahmoud, head of the Bahrain International Airshow [stand 1183], who is at EBACE to promote the event taking place on 16-18 January 2014.

TAG Farnborough airport is planning a multimillion-pound revamp and expansion in preparation for an expected market rebound. TAG has acquired a 38,000ft² (3,530m²) office and associated land on the airport's northeast boundary, which will be developed for staff currently based in the terminal. "This purchase will allow us to free-up space in the VIP terminal for additional passenger lounges and enhanced facilities for our customers," says Brandon O'Reilly, chief executive of TAG Farnborough Airport.

Bristol airport has now made the necessary moves to put itself in a position to become potentially a leading UK hub for business jet traffic. They have managed to remedy and change a number of facets in operation that had stifled growth at the facility in the past and now Bristol airport seems to be the home of the only fixed-base operation (FBO) in the southwest. The FBO - Bristol Flying Center - received the requisite government approval at the end of July to handle all charter flights directly. Previously, all charter flights above 10t - except privately owned or derogated flights - had to be cleared through the main airport.

"This approval opens up the potential for significant growth in movements for the business," says Phil Brockwell, chief executive of the BFC Group, which also includes Bristol-based Cessna Citation CJ2 charter operator Centreline Air and maintenance company BFC Engineering in its portfolio.

Sonoma Jet Center of Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport has joined Signature Flight Support’s (SFS) affiliate FBO programme, Signature Select. Sonoma Jet Center will offer the Signature Status and TailWins customer rewards programmes. The Sonoma Jet Center team members will undergo Signature’s Safety and Service with training programmes. “Fundamental to our decision [to join Signature Select] was Signature’s proprietary customer rewards, service and safety programmes and the ability to utilise Signature’s purchasing power,” said Josh Hochberg, Co-owner, Sonoma Jet Center.

Jet Aviation Basel recently completed the refurbishment of its Maintenance customer lounge, updating and expanding it to more than twice its original size.

Customer demand is increasing for full ground handling services and Jet Aviation - Berlin has extended its facilities at Tegel Airport. Added amenities to the Tegel Airport facility now includes a new customer lounge and crew briefing offices located at Tegel’s General Aviation Centre (GAC). They accent the existing crew and VIP passenger lounge and operations office at Schönefeld International. “As the closest airport to Berlin’s centre, Tegel International is proving to be an attractive destination for business, charter, VIP and state flights,” said Frank Kusserow, Jet Aviation’s Director of FBO Services in Germany. “These new amenities provide the necessary space and comfort to enable us to better meet the needs of our customers and crews at both airports in Berlin.”

Signature Flight Support is expanding its brand and services. ASIG Panamá recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at Tocumen International Airport for a new Signature Flight Support Fixed Base Operation (FBO). The design for the facility includes a 7,000sq ft lobby, pilot lounge, customer parking and on-site customs and immigrations facilities to expedite clearance into the country for business and private aviation customers.

As part of continuing efforts to go beyond their clients basic needs, Cedar Jet Center the leading Lebanese FBO, is pleased to announce the expansion of its facilities with a new state of the art crew lounge, a snooze room and new operations offices. The designs are based on better meeting the evolving needs of today’s luxury traveler while at the same time introducing a unique local flavor in each location. Moreover, new Ground Handling Equipment has been purchased including a new model Audi A8 for VIP transportation.

TAG Farnborough Airport has been awarded Airport Carbon Accreditation at the ‘Optimization’ level, recognizing a reduction in carbon emissions under the airport’s direct control, between 1 January and 31 December 2012, and the inclusion of third party and local aircraft emissions within the overall footprint. Miles Thomas, Environment Manager of TAG Farnborough Airport, was presented with the accreditation certificate by Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, at the head office of the program administrator WSP Environment & Energy in central London.

FAA opens new Palm Springs control tower replacing the old one that served since 1967.

Hangar8 is expecting to open a brand-new FBO in Jeresy, Channel Islands sometime in early 2015. This is according to the CEO, Dustin Dryden. The Project is expected to start at the top of next year and run throughout the year to meet the early 2015 completion. Dryden indicated that Hangar8 is exploring plans to expand further into the FBO sector. “We see this as a way to improve the facilities and the service we receive ourselves [as an aircraft operator] and we may buy our way into existing [ground handling] markets where established skills and facilities are available,” he explained.

Euro Jet opens renovated Prague FBO.

Catherine Gaisenband, the former owner of the Spanish Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) network Assistair has re-launched Côte D’Azur-based Aviacare, an FBO consultancy agency. Aviacare is expected to continue to provide FBO consultancy, however, has widened its portfolio offered to include aircraft brokerage, charter offerings, tender preparation, and strategic partner identification. Furthermore, it will deal in management support for external partner relationships.