Signature Europe Sees Rise
in FBO Business Jet Traffic

Signature at London-Luton Airport is experiencing an upturn in charter corporate aircraft bookings after a flat four to six weeks weeks following the events of September 11.

Bookings for November were well above forecast, according to Mark Jempson, Signature's operations and charter sales manager .

"Trans Atlantic 'N registered' FBO traffic is doing well and reaching respectable levels" adds Jonathan Soper, Signature's European MD for flight support and charter/management.

"But westbound traffic from Europe to the United States has definitely slowed down, and this is confirmed by brokers and our other operators," Soper said. He reckons this is due more to the world economic slowdown than totally related to the U.S. tragedies.

"Since September 11, business within the European arena is very much as we would expect at this time of the year. It is healthy, and even helicopter work has stayed buoyant because of the good weather," he said.

BBA Group CEO Roy McGlone recently signed a multi-million dollar deal with Executive Jet for the company's Signature FBO chain to provide exculsive fuel and gound support for NetJets.

Signature has completed a company wide security audit of its European sites. Security on ramps has been further tightened with extra patrols. All Signature's FBO staff at London-Luton have attended government sponsored security awareness courses, and the company is offering customers 24 hour aircraft security.

Peter Whitehead, Chief Executive of BBA Aviation Europe told Show News the last two weeks of October and the beginning of November have seen tremendous increases on last year's FBO arrivals figures. "During the first few weeks following the atrocities, generally the figures were bouncing around at the same levels as last year. But we have had weeks where figures have been 10% down and the next 15% up. It has fluctuated quite widely," he said.

Aircraft maintenance is a longer term issue, with some evidence of customers holding back where they don't need to spend immediate money.

"On aircraft sales, there is a 'wait and see' attitude out there but despite this our sales department has sold two or three aircraft since September 11," Whitehead said.

By Mike Vines