EBACE Show News - May 21, 2008 - (Page 44)

EBACE 2008 Signature Expands Further in Europe Signature Flight Support, the world’s largest fixed-base business aviation and distribution network, continues to expand. David Best, Signature Flight Support’s MD for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa says, “The business aviation market in Europe is growing rapidly, and we see opportunities across a broad spectrum of airports serving major business centers, resorts, and key relievers. Our performance this year remains robust, and we have enjoyed steady traffic at our bases in Europe from a global customer base.” Best also points out that the company’s FBO expansion continues to be rolled out across Europe, with new business operations in Liege, Belgium, and Thessaloniki, Greece, becoming operational last year. The new Signature Liege FBO features separate passenger and crew lounges, customs and immigration, security screening, and direct ramp apron access. The airport is open 24 hours a day, and can handle aircraft up to Boeing 747 size. At Thessaloniki, which serves Greece’s second largest city, Signature acquired the former ATAS FBO, which had been established at the airport since 1987, serving both general aviation and commercial aircraft. These newest facilities follow on from a massive investment at ParisLe Bourget, where after a major refurbishment, the company has reopened Le Terminal, which is Signature has the busiest FBO at London Luton (above) and is the only bizav specialist at Heathrow. “The business aviation market in Europe is growing rapidly, and we see opportunities across a broad spectrum of airports serving major business centers, resorts, and key relievers.” —David Best, Signature Flight Support’s MD for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa now the largest FBO facility at this business aviation-only airport. “Our Paris operations are doing extremely well,” said Best. “We now have two full service terminal facilities—Signature Le Terminal and Signature Terminal 1—available for use by visiting passengers and crewmembers. We also have 13 hangars to support both based and transient aircraft.” Signature Le Terminal has five floors of lounges, VIP rooms, offices and meeting rooms, along with excellent crew facilities and Signature has made a huge investment in Le Terminal at Paris-Le Bourget. covered access for limousines. “Our passengers and crews now enjoy an unrivalled level of comfort and convenience when transiting Le Bourget,” notes Best. On the question of business aviation congestion at London’s airports, where Signature is the busiest FBO at London-Luton and the sole business aviation specialist at Heathrow, Best says, “London is an extremely popular destination for business jet traffic, with commensurately high demand for ramp space at all airports. Signature is very well positioned in the market with our FBO facilities at both airports. We expect demand to continue to grow and are working with the airports and various planning professionals to best measure how to maximize the efficiency of our current leaseholds. We will also continue to explore new opportunities at other airports serving the London market.” As for expanding Signature’s presense further east, Best says, “We are committed to supporting our customers on a global scale, and we will continue to seek opportunities in new and growing markets. Signature has a very successful joint venture in China, with our partners at the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, which has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading FBOs. “In the U.S., Signature added eight new FBO locations in 2007,” Best notes, “and recently announced the acquisition of Hawker Beechcraft’s FBOs at key airport locations.” In February Hawker Beechcraft announced that it was selling its wholly owned fuel and line operations to BBA Aviation (Signature’s parent company) for $128.5 million. The sale is expected to be closed this month. The deal includes FBOs at Atlanta, Georgia; Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Tampa, Florida; Van Nuys, California. and Wichita, Kansas. Hawker Beechcraft retains its factory-owned maintenance and customer support facilities at these locations. With the addition of the former Hawker Beechcraft FBOs, Signature now has 92 global locations including 56 in the U.S.—Mike Vines 44 May 21, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EBACE Show News - May 21, 2008

A318 Elite is on a Roll A Circle Around London P&WC Deliveries Triple Avanti Sees Sales Shift RUAG Eyes Needy Cabins Global Gets Even NICEr Embraer Beefs Up Support Honeywell ‘Virtual VFR’ Signature Europe Grows Gestair Seeks to Double Aero-Dienst Turns 50 Gama Doubles in Size All is Not Woe with Oil Ocean Sky is Aggressive

EBACE Show News - May 21, 2008

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