Metro Business Doubles Luton Ops;
Stansted Logs 10 Biz-747s a Week

In a bid to increase corporate jet business at London Luton Airport, Metro Aviation is building another larger hangar and doubling the size of its current ramp area at the airport.

"Our Luton operation is huge. We are now getting 40% of business traffic-it has grown by 350-400% since 1998," said Alan George, sales and marketing director at Metro Business Aviation. "We doubled the size of our facilities two years ago and now we're doubling up again."

Metro has already outgrown its first new BBJ-capable hangar and a second of 65.000sq. ft. is under construction and due to be operational early next year. Ramp space is also being more than doubled from 47,000 sq. ft. to 96,000 sq. ft.

"We are simply outgrowing our hangars at Luton," said George. "We have a resident fleet of four Challengers, two Gulfstreams and two Citations and we want to pick up more BBJ and Gulfstream V work. Our ramp space is also critical-some days we have over 21 aircraft on the ramp and have to move them to other less convenient parking areas." Metro Luton recently handled a corporate Boeing 767.

But at the company's London Stansted FBO one 767 would be considered 'small fry' as last year, during a two month period, Metro Stansted handled 84 (ten a week) corporate Boeing 747 movements.

At Heathrow the co-operation agreement between Metro and Swissport is working well, according to George. Metro Swissport Executive Aviation was formed last August.

"Immediately after September 11 we could get any slots we wanted, but they are getting tighter now with the summer season coming on," he said. "For example if you apply for 12.00 hrs. you get 13.30, so its better than it was historically, but starting to bite again."

The company handles two thirds of all business aviation at Heathrow, including Saudi Boeing 727s and BBJs.

Another $1.5 million has been spent on refurbishment and security improvements at central London's only commercial heliport. Known as the London Metro Heliport (ex Battersea) it was bought from GKN Westland in December 2000.

Execujet Scandinavia signed with Metro Stansted just before EBACE to base a Global Express there from the first week in June. An Execujet Learjet is also to be based there under the same agreement. (Execujet Scand-inavia is one of eight corporate jet operators signed-up to Bombardier's revamped Flexjet Europe membership program.)

On the engineering side of the business, Luton is a Bombardier -authorized Challenger, Global Express and Learjet Service center. Gulfstream II, III, IV and Hawkers can also find servicing there.

The company's own helicopter corporate charter fleet under Air Harrods consists of two Sikorsky S-76s, an EC 135, and a newly arrived Agusta A109E Power 'Elite.'

Metro Business Aviation is exhibiting here at EBACE under the ExxonMobil Avitat banner on Booth 7489.