Ocean Sky is seeking to add "between ten and 12 fixed-based operations" to its European jet centre portfolio within three years and gain a foothold in the Middle East within five years.
The move comes as the business aviation services provider opens its third UK FBO at London Luton airport and steps up its marketing activity for the facility, where it competes alongside two long-standing business aviation service companies Harrods Aviation and Signature Flight Support at one of the UK's busiest airports.
"We have huge ambitions for Ocean Sky," says Stephen Grimes, chief executive of Ocean Sky Jet Centre, sister company to Ocean Sky's business aircraft brokerage, charter and management arm.
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"Paris Le Bourget and Nice in France, Shannon and Dublin in Ireland, Milan in Italy, Munich in Germany, Olbia in Sardinia and Zurich in Switzerland are locations of interest in Europe, while we are looking at Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Dubai as out bases in the Middle East," he adds.
Grimes, a former Harrods Aviation chief executive, admits these locations are "highly prized and sought after", but is undaunted by the challenge. "There is tremendous asset value in these locations as they are all attracting a great deal of business aircraft traffic," he says.
Ocean Sky - owned by Luxembourg-based trust fund Ocean Group International - is keen to offer an array of services at its jet centres "where it makes sense to do so. We will examine each location on its merits," says Grimes
At Luton, handling, parking and line maintenance on Bombardier and Dassault types will be offered initially, but "we are looking at opportunities to develop a full maintenance capability with a hangar at some stage", says Grimes. "The pinch point at Luton is concrete - there simply isn't enough of it to accommodate the demands of all the airport's residents."
Source: Flight International