TAG Farnborough Airport is continuing the improvement project begun in October, when it moved its headquarters offices out of the distinctive terminal building. As part of a £1 million ($1.5 million) refit, the company has established new “designer” lounges and opened a “fast track” entrance for customers to the airfield. It has also built a gym for crew and has a new snooze room. The improved terminal is “one million pounds well spent,” according to TAG Farnborough Airport CEO Brandon O’Reilly.
The contemporary design of the new lounge area gives an impression of space and somewhere relaxation is a priority, for both passengers and crew, who now have a lounge overlooking the apron.
Underlying the move was the company’s view that “the terminal building should be about our customers,” said O’Reilly. With that goal in mind, in 2007 the company purchased an office suite known as Meadowbank and moved the TAG management team to that site.
Also driving the relocation was customers’ continuing move toward larger aircraft, often with more passengers on board. “We wanted to create better facilities [and] we’ve discovered that there is emerging demand for higher-volume business aviation flights, as well as football teams, entertainers and their entourages.”
O’Reilly said he was expecting movements for this year to be up 2 percent compared with 2014 and “between 5 and 8 percent up in the larger aircraft, such as BBJs.” Thus movements stand at about 25,000 a year, “but we can go to 50,000, so are only at half capacity.” Added O’Reilly, “We have everything we need now to be able to support our customers [up to the consented capacity limit].” Farnborough Airport remains the only “bespoke” business aviation airport in the UK, designed specifically for VIPs and business travelers.
O’Reilly reflected that although the lounge areas are available, many passengers are too busy to stop and simply head straight to their aircraft or to a car that meets their aircraft, before heading to their helicopters or driving to the nearby M3 motorway.
“Immigration officers come on board to stamp your passport so you can get straight in your car and onto the M3, or into your helicopter.” He said London has 11 airports in and around it that support business aviation “but all other airfields are hybrids,” meaning they have either commercial operations or flying schools.
The company has several other facilities near the airport, added O’Reilly. “The Swan, an old coaching inn, became available 18 months ago so we bought the freehold of the pub. We have just finished a significant refurbishing.” TAG already owns the Aviator 169-room hotel by the airfield. The Swan is “a standalone business overseen by The Aviator. It’s a nice warm English gastro pub.”