30 July 2009 – Global Business Jet

Oxford Airport, UK has welcomed three new tenant companies and more aircraft, adding to the strong business aviation fraternity that has come to be established there.

London Executive Aviation is creating a new base at Oxford to complement its existing operations, initially basing its new Legacy 600, G-RUBE, under management contract there. It plans to add more aircraft into the year. Business aviation solutions company Jet Connections moves from Farnborough Airport to Oxford, bringing its expertise in aircraft management, charter brokerage, aircraft sales/acquisitions and aircraft valeting. Fairoaks, Chobham-based Synergy Aviation is basing its Cessna Citation CJ2 +, new onto its AOC, at Oxford in support of its Oxfordshire-based resident owner. It has already taken a number of charters on the aircraft and anticipates it will do more from Oxford.

‘There is so much potential at Oxford Airport with the ongoing investment in new facilities and increase in business jet movements that we were convinced this is the right place for us to grow our business,” said Zaher Deir, Managing Director of Jet Connections. He highlighted that the company is finalising the acquisition of a business jet for a client which will be based in the Middle East and at Oxford Airport when positioned in the UK. Jet Connections is also recruiting locally for several admin and operations positions.

In addition, Oxford Airport has changed its supplier of fuel to Gulf Aviation, (for both Avgas and Avtur). The new agreement represents an extremely cost effective deal for the airport and its users. Gulf Aviation, a smaller player in aviation fuel provision, but one with a 100 year heritage, will both supply and maintain the bowsers as part of its new contract which takes effect from August 1st, 2009. Business aircraft movements up in July

Oxford Airport is also pleased to have bucked the trend in the UK with some days in the month of July supporting up to 20 business aircraft rotations, with a record amount of jet fuel sold as a result. (This time last year Oxford Airport was averaging 10 business aviation movements.)

‘We’ve certainly had an upbeat July,” said Head of Marketing and Development, James Dillon-Godfray, attributing the trend to the airport’s affordability factor, its improved opening hours – 0630 to 1030 seven days a week, with flexibility to increase to midnight and its recent investment in Cat 5 Fire & Rescue capabilities. The enhanced RFFS cover has enabled Oxford to accept bigger business aviation aircraft and regional airliners.