TAG Aviation Eases Up Rapid Growth
to Make All the Pieces Work Together

TAG Aviation plans a panoramic and state of the art air traffic control facility as part of its plans to upgrade the famous airfield and turn it into a business aviation center.

This year will be one of consolidation for TAG Aviation as the Swiss-based charter and aircraft management company takes a breather from its rapid and aggressive expansion strategy to put the new parts together.

Last year's growth milestones included:

• An increase in international charter sales of 35% (partly due to the grounding of Concorde);
• The addition of 39 aircraft to its managed fleet, (and more since), bringing its global fleet to more than 150 business jets. Its European fleet grew to 31 last year with the addition of a Falcon 900, two Learjet 45s and a Citation Excel;
• Expansion into the UK with the signing of a long-term lease on Farnborough Aerodrome, where it is creating a business aviation center for the London area;
• Formation with Cessna of CitationShares, Cessna's long-awaited entry in the fractional ownership market.

"Integration of world operations is key to providing better, more customized services to clients," noted TAG Aviation CEO Roger McMullin, who is focusing on fine-tuning the way TAG's Geneva, New York, San Francisco and UK offices operate together. And it hasn't been the easiest task, as TAG quickly found out that clients in Europe and the U.S. typically have quite different expectations.

The Farnborough expansion has not been easy, either, as negotiations dragged on for some considerable time with the British Ministry of Defense, and the local council over future use of the airport.

"Although most of the anticipated return is longer term, the focus and presence that we've only just begun to build in the UK has already affected our worldwide management, sales and charter opportunities," said McMullin. TAG is in Booth 7401.