ExecuJet Aviation (Stand 242) has added three Spanish FBOs at Gerona, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca to its ground-handling portfolio. “ExecuJet has chosen to expand into Spain as we view it as an area of economic opportunity,” said the group’s managing director for Europe, Cedric Migeon. By growing our FBO bases now we are well positioned for when the Spanish economy begins to rebound. We have moved into airports that we know are already serving an increasing amount of international movements and expect the business to grow significantly in the next few years.”

The Ibiza FBO comprises two offices in the general aviation terminal, and includes an operations center for crew planning and a refurbished VIP lounge. The Spanish team running the station is now preparing for the busy summer period, which begins in June and is driven by high-end leisure travelers. “We are looking forward to the upcoming season and expect at least 50 movements a month through our first summer in Ibiza,” commented ExecuJet’s European FBO director Nicole Gut.

ExecuJet’s Palma base is also located in the general aviation building and will be run by a team of four experienced staff, who join the company from established Spanish FBO chain Assistair. The Zurich-based group, which is active in aircraft charter and management, will base a Hawker 800 at the airport. “Our expectation is that Palma will be busy all year round,” added Gut. “There is an extensive network of wealthy individuals that live and work on the island who travel all year, and an active Spanish business community traveling to and from the peninsula.”

On the mainland, ExecuJet will be providing handling services through an additional FBO based in Gerona and aims to serve the expanding industrial area of Catalunya, which is continuing to develop a significant business economy. Mallorca’s Son San Joan Airport will become the company’s Spanish headquarters.

The additions mean that ExecuJet now has seven FBOs in Europe, including its existing bases in Valencia, Zurich, Berlin Schönefeld, and Paris Le Bourget [in partnership with Advanced Air Support (EBACE Stand 643)]. ExecuJet Aviation Group, headquartered in Zurich, has operations in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

Facelift at Le Bourget

Meanwhile, ExecuJet’s 24/7 facility at Le Bourget has had a facelift and now offers en-suite bedrooms, a renovated meeting room, a prayer area and a medical elevator. The two bedrooms have direct access and views into the hangar and come with en-suite bathrooms, TV and WiFi. The FBO offers brand-new prayer and meditation rooms for both passengers and crew. For disabled customers, the elevator provides easy access to the aircraft and hangar, turning Le Bourget into an accessible destination for customers in wheelchairs, who previously had to travel via other Parisian airports.

The FBO has seen a vast increase in visiting traffic and reports that movements have increased from an average of five per day to around 30 per day since 2009. ExecuJet also has two jets under management based at Le Bourget and plans to add further aircraft in the near future. The company manages 150 business jets worldwide under eight regional air-operating certificates.