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Gloucestershire Airport is “Cargo Ready” and Welcomes First Cargo Operator.

The Weston Aviation team launching the new cargo handling service.

In response for an alternative airport for urgent automotive and “just in time” logistics, Gloucestershire Airport has welcomed its first cargo operator. Global Airlift Solutions operated their PC12NG Cargo aircraft into the airport at the launch of the new service. Visiting cargo aircraft will be handled by Weston Aviation at their FBO facility and private ramp area, offering fast and professional handling enabling the cargo to be on the road within minutes of arrival.

Nick Weston, CEO of Weston Aviation commented, “I have been involved in urgent automotive logistics and handling for 30 years and understand the fine balance between the on-time delivery of cargo and where possible cost savings. As soon as we opened our new FBO facility at Gloucestershire Airport in 2019, we saw the enormous potential for developing cargo handling for JIT operations. Being slightly more southerly than traditional automotive hubs such as Birmingham, with less flying and lower cost and just 50 minutes drive away, we would be offloaded and on the road before an aircraft arrives at Birmingham.”

The Weston Aviation FBO and ramp is located immediately adjacent to the airport entrance gate and the main North to South West M5 motorway can be accessed within 5 minutes of departing the airport. As a pure business airport, Gloucestershire Airport has no scheduled commercial traffic to cause any delays and fuel is delivered immediately on request. From the airport, you can also be in Bristol in 40 minutes, Cardiff and Oxford in an hour and Derby in 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Sven Sroka, VP Sales for Global Airlift Solutions equally sees the airport as a great opportunity and new operating base. “We are delighted to be the first cargo aircraft into Gloucestershire Airport which is a perfect partner for the capability and uniqueness of the PC12 Cargo aircraft. We look forward to working closely with both Weston Aviation and our cargo brokers and clients through the airport”. Karen Taylor, the airport’s Commercial Finance Director was equally enthusiastic. “This is a great new opportunity for us and demonstrates perfectly the great future and potential of Gloucestershire Airport as well as working with Weston Aviation”.

Established in 1995, Weston Aviation is one of the UK’s leading business aviation support companies in the UK and Ireland with FBO facilities at Manchester, Humberside, Cornwall Newquay, Gloucestershire and Cork Airports. The company offers owner operated FBO facilities and services, Hangarage, worldwide fuel sales, aircraft charter and general business aviation and FBO development consultancy. Nick Weston is the CEO and founder of Weston Aviation and has over 34 years’ aviation experience and is also the former Chairman of The Air Charter Association and continues to sit on the associations board.

For more information call 01452 203183 or email gloucestershire@optimistic-maxwell.87-239-23-113.plesk.page

Coronavirus: Regional business aviation is key to bounce back in UK

Nick Weston is CEO of Weston Aviation

Over the last 3 months Weston Aviation has provided specialist services to help worldwide essential air travel but as the business aviation landscape is changing dramatically, clients are now choosing regional departures to accommodate their business needs all year round, which they may have not considered before.

Business aviation will show its full and real potential as a cost-effective business tool that helps to drive commerce and not just a preserve of the rich and famous, as our CEO Nick Weston – FRAeS explains

“The lockdown experience has of course shown many that home and virtual working is viable and a good workable alternative to the traditional office and commuting practice. There is  no doubt that the environmental and infrastructure benefits of this should be encouraged.

However, business travel must and will continue and everyday, restrictions on travel are easing. The demand for both business and leisure travel will be running ahead of the commercial airlines ability to restart routes and get back to full service.

This is where business aviation will show its full and real potential as a cost-effective business tool that helps to drive commerce and not just a preserve of the rich and famous.

Regional airports will also play a significant role in the rebuilding of business aviation and the economy. For many years, Weston Aviation has invested in FBO services and facilities at smaller regional airports in the UK where previously none existed.

At all of the Weston Aviation owned and operated FBO locations, year on year growth has seen an increase in airport movements and revenues.

The simple reason for our success is that we don’t see ourselves as an FBO, a charter brokerage, a fuel company or an airport tenant, we are a multi-resource company that works closely in partnership with our airport owners and management teams with one objective in mind, mutual growth.

Traditionally, regional airport FBO’s and airports themselves have failed to capture growth with a reactive approach accommodating aircraft movements day to day rather than a pro-active approach planned carefully around the  potential of an airport and its capability to grow. The message of how viable, efficient and cost-effective business aviation is rarely leaves the airport perimeter fence to be spread to the local business community that could and would use it.

Regional connectivity will be the key to bouncing back post-Covid 19. As airlines may take up to two years to once again operate to their previous 2019 schedules, business aviation will not only facilitate flights  for passengers as and when they need, from their local smaller airfield instead of the main well known business jet hubs, they will also get closer to the final destination saving an incredible amount of time.

Charter brokers need to consider smaller regional airports more too. I have previously tested this by giving a post code in the middle of the Cotswolds in the UK and been offered flights to Bristol or Birmingham, when Gloucestershire, Cotswold and Oxford Airports are much closer and convenient.

The smaller regional airports also need to play their part and promote the benefits of business aviation locally. Earlier this year I attended a business dinner in Cheltenham sitting with many high net wort individuals and local business leaders.

Only one person had chartered an aircraft once before and despite Gloucestershire Airport being only four miles from where we were in Cheltenham, no one else in the room realised that business aviation existed.

We are all anticipating business aviation seeing a surge in demand not only for connectivity reasons, reassurance of travelling with known colleagues and family but also due to the  lack of airline routes, capacity and reliability issues. The airport terminal experience is not going to be a pleasant one for quite some time with increased check-in time, longer queues, shortage of facilities and of course the increased risk of infection.

As we begin the bounce back, let us all fully consider the full range of regional airports that are available to business and private aircraft. If you are a broker, just look little closer to see if there is a smaller and closer regional airport that you can use as there are many. If you are a regional airport owner, open the gate, step outside and tell your local community of your incredible facility with flexible flying right from their doorstep. One new customer is an additional movement, airport fee and fuel sale.

Let’s break the mould, shake off the reactive past and be ready to rebuild.”

Nick Weston is CEO of Weston Aviation, a FBO and cargo handling network that operates at five locations in the UK and Ireland in addition to offering fuel services at various locations around those countries.

Weston Aviation Appoints New Aviation Fuel Manager

Weston Aviation Appoints New Aviation Fuel Manager

Nick Weston (CEO), Ruth Tootill (Aviation Fuel Manager), Becky Carver (MD)


Weston Aviation has appointed Ruth Tootill as Aviation Fuel Manager for the group. Formerly with Air BP, Ruth was Account Manager of GA Fuels sales in the UK and brings to Weston Aviation 23 years of experience within the oil industry, and 8 years within aviation, building relationships and networks worldwide during management of fuel tenders and expansion of Air BP’s fuel reseller network.
 
Speaking of the appointment, CEO, Nick Weston said, ”We are absolutely delighted to welcome Ruth to the Weston Aviation team and through her vast experience of fuel contracts and reseller arrangements, it is an exciting new phase of development of the wide ranging services that we now offer to our customers and airports”.
 
Commenting on the move, Ruth Tootill said “After many years with Air BP, I was looking for a different and exciting challenge in which I can develop and use my extensive knowledge of aviation fuel operations and Weston Aviation was the one company that I had in mind, so I am delighted to be joining Nick, Becky and the team across our four offices”

EBACE 2019

Weston Aviation will once again be attending EBACE in Geneva. The team consisting of Nick Weston- CEO, Becky Carver- Managing Director and Paul Daly-Flight Support Manager Cork, will be attending the show. To arrange a meeting with the team, please contact becky.carver@westonaviation .com.

Weston Aviation gains exclusive approval for the EU PET Travel Scheme (PETS) at Gloucestershire Airport

Weston Aviation has been given exclusive approval from the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) to receive domestic cats, dogs and ferrets under the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) at Gloucestershire Airport. The PETS Travel Scheme enables domestic cats, dogs and ferrets to fly into the UK from certain countries without quarantine, subject to passing required checks.

Approved operators can now fly owners with their pets directly into Gloucestershire Airport for clearance by Weston Aviation staff, and pets can also be cleared there before proceeding to any other UK airport.

Becky Carver, Weston Aviation Managing Director, “Since opening our fourth FBO at Gloucestershire Airport, we have been looking at ways of enhancing our services, and gaining approval to PETS was a priority for us. Prior to obtaining this approval, passengers with pets wanting to fly into Gloucestershire have had to fly into alternative airports. Having also recently taken over a 12,000 sq.ft FBO & Hangar with a private ramp, our team can now clear pets directly from this ramp and they can be on their way within minutes of arrival, enabling a better experience for the pet as well as its owner.”

For further details, please contact our Ops team at gloucestershire@optimistic-maxwell.87-239-23-113.plesk.page

Weston Aviation to open FBO at Gloucestershire Airport

 

Weston Aviation, the UK and Ireland based FBO and Business Aviation specialist have agreed terms to open a new Business Aviation Centre and FBO at Gloucestershire Airport (EGBJ/GLO).

 

Weston Aviation CEO and founder, Nick Weston said “We are delighted to be opening a new FBO facility at Gloucestershire Airport and this will be an exciting addition to our network of four locations in the UK and Ireland. Gloucestershire Airport is based in a location that offers significant potential for the development of business aviation growth and activity as well as encouraging new users of private air travel to and from the region.”

 

Mark Ryan, Managing Director of Gloucestershire Airport said, “We are delighted to announce Weston Aviation as our preferred FBO service provider and welcoming them to the airport in November.”

 

Established in 1995, Weston Aviation is the second largest FBO network in the UK and Ireland in terms of locations with additional FBO facilities at Cornwall Airport Newquay, Humberside International Airport and Cork Airport in Ireland. Weston Aviation also provides aircraft charter services, aircraft leasing and fuel services.

 

Gloucestershire Airport is renowned as the busiest general and business aviation airport in the country. We have a brand-new reception area in our terminal building and a number of exciting initiatives coming up too, including significant investment in infrastructure on the aerodrome, such as modern aircraft hangars and business units. For more information contact our Briefing Team on 01452 857700, Briefing@gloucestershireairport.co.uk or visit www.gloucestershireairport.co.uk

 

For more information on Weston Aviation, please contact +44 0845 050 6500 or commercial@optimistic-maxwell.87-239-23-113.plesk.page

 

BACA Excellence Awards 2017

Weston Aviation was delighted to win at the BACA Autumn Lunch and Excellence Awards, the award for Ground Handler/FBO of the Year 2017.

 

This is the second year running that Weston Aviation has won this award from a shortlist of highly regarded industry peers. The winners of the Awards are chosen by the membership of BACA.

 

 

BACA Council Annual Cocktail Reception

Nick Weston and The BACA Council recently attended the annual cocktail reception of the Baltic Exchange, with a number of BACA members attending including World Fuels and Harrods Aviation.

The event was held at Christ Church Spitalfields in the City of London and the group was addressed by the new Chairman of SGX who recently purchased the Baltic Exchange

Weston Aviation Team Attending EBACE 2017

Weston Aviation will be attending the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE 2017) in Geneva from the 22-24th May. Attending will be Nick Weston- CEO, Becky Carver- Managing Director UK & Ireland and Alison Walker – Charter Sales Manager.

If you’d like to arrange a meeting, please contact becky.carver@optimistic-maxwell.87-239-23-113.plesk.page

Runway Closures EGCN/DSA 01 January – 30 April 2017

A full runway resurface will be taking place at Doncaster Sheffield Airport during the period of January to April 2017, resulting in full night closures.

Operators are requested to take note that there are planned works every night throughout the programmed dates.

Work is scheduled to take place on the 2nd January through to the 30th April.

Full details with timings can be found here: doncaster-sheffield-airport-runway-closures

Any changes to timings will be notified by NOTAM.

ACE Gloucestershire Airport is "Cargo Ready" and Welcomes First Cargo Operator. Coronavirus: Regional business aviation is key to bounce back in UK