Story ID: 694
Farnborough Sees Bizliner Growth
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: ACJs and BBJs are becoming a common sight at the London-area bizav airport.
Word Count: 263

The UK’s TAG Farnborough Airport is one of Europe’s most popular business aircraft destinations, and its FBO has garnered an impressive streak as the highest rated location in the Eastern Hemisphere, according to AIN’s readers, something CEO Brandon O’Reilly does not take for granted.

For 2015, he noted that the dedicated business aviation airport (Booth Y044) saw a 2 percent increase in operations year-over-year, with a disparate 6 percent rise in airliner-derived business aircraft such as the Boeing BBJ, Airbus ACJ and Embraer Lineage. That trend has continued through the first four months of the year. O’Reilly reported that London-area Farnborough has experienced a 1 percent increase in flights over the same period in 2015, yet the number of operations by 50-ton-or-greater aircraft, predominantly ACJs and BBJs has maintained its 6 percent increase. “That part of the market still seems to be holding up and developing,” said O’Reilly, who believes the introduction late last year of a bespoke, large-capacity VIP lounge on the FBO’s first floor could also be a contributing factor.

The company engaged heavily in promotion and marketing of the lounge, which can accommodate approximately 70 passengers, and it appears that investment has paid dividends. Likewise, the new discrete facility has garnered approval from the music groups, sports teams and government and diplomatic envoys that have used it.

Other recent improvements at the FBO include a gymnasium, an additional snooze room and another pilot work room, the result of customer feedback recorded on two iPads mounted in the FBO, expressly for that purpose.