New links in BBA's European FBO chain

The BBA Group has added yet another European business aircraft handling operation to its Signature Flight Support chain with the December 8 acquisition of FBO Shannon on the west coast of Ireland. BBA purchased the FBO from its private owners for $3 million (E2.5 million).

FBO Shannon also provides handling at Cork Airport on Ireland’s south coast. In the financial year ending last March 31, it logged revenues of approximately $2.5 million. Its direct competitor at Shannon Airport–a popular transatlantic technical stop–is Ocean Bridge Handling, which Universal Weather & Aviation now owns.

In November, Signature Flight Support added the Executive Aircraft Services facility at London Heathrow Airport to its fast-growing European FBO chain. A few months earlier, BBA added 10 other European bases with the acquisition of Menzies Aviation’s Execair subsidiary, as well as a controlling stake in Greece’s Athens Aviation. BBA now has 19 European FBOs, in addition to a handling presence at several Greek airports.

BBA has also announced the purchase of UK-based aircraft cleaning company Boker Aeroclean for $22 million (£11.6 million). The company mainly serves airlines at London Heathrow Airport.