Metro Upbeat as Figures Go Through Roof

The Metro Business Aviation chain of London FBOs is experiencing growth figures way above their own forecasts, according to Alan George, Metro's sales and marketing director.

"Financially, July at London-Stansted was about 45 percent higher than we'd budgeted for," said George. "We had budgeted growth at 10 to 12 percent, and over a full year I believe that this will be about right. At our London-Luton facility we'd forecast an increase of 20 percent year on year, but so far this is running at about 15 percent -- but that's still 10 percent higher than last year."

Metro's Stansted FBO operation is rapidly becoming the U.K.'s center for extra-large corporate and governmental aircraft movements. "Thirty-eight of these large aircraft (the smallest being a corporate Boeing 767) visited Stansted in July, and the August figure looks like it will be similar," said George. "I guess we are pulling them in at about 10 per week. Last week, on one day, we had an MD-11, two Boeing 747s and a Boeing 767 on our ramp. Most of the movements emanate from the Middle East, and their passengers de-camp to the U.K. for a few months to escape the 50ºC temperatures at home.

Metro's Stansted operation accounted for about 7,200 movements last year, which is about 75 percent of all corporate movements at the airport, according to George. "We are expecting that figure to reach 7,700 to 7,800 this year, of which about 500 will be wide bodies (down to BBJ sized aircraft)."

Northwest of Stansted, at Metro's London-Luton base, expansion continues with a new 50,000-square-foot hangar, ramp space doubling up to 96,000 square feet, and a brand-new two-story FBO -- all to be operational by Feb. 28, 2003.

According to George, the expansion will enable the company to keep pace with its corporate customers' needs. A deal to base a BBJ with Metro has recently been signed by an undisclosed client. "We are filling space before we can build it," said George. "Metro Luton handled around 6,500 movements last year, mainly in the Gulfstream IV/Global Express and Challenger size, but we also handle the very large machines as well."

At Heathrow, Metro joined with Swissport to form Metro Swissport Executive Aviation in August 2001. "Slots at Heathrow are no worse or better than they always were, and of the 3,000 corporate/head of state movements per year, we handle around 2,200," said George.

"Heads of state still fly into Heathrow to be met at the 'Royal Terminal' by representatives of the Queen and government officials. A number of these very large governmental aircraft are then repositioned to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, where they are protected by military security."

Interior and exterior refurbishment of London Metro Heliport (ex-Battersea Heliport) was completed August 31. "Helicopter movements are up by about 10 percent," said George. During the Farnborough Air Show in July, helicopters were logged at five-minute intervals ferrying executives from their London hotels to the show.

Just a couple of weeks before NBAA, Metro hired Tracy Gough as their U.S. sales manager (making her Metro's first U.S. employee). "Gough will be covering the United States from L.A to Teterboro, and will be targeting U.S. companies and individuals to use Metro's London FBOs the next time they visit the U.K." Meet her and the rest of the Metro team at Booth 1453.

By Mike Vines