Press Release
Issued by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.
May 19, 2014
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on the eve of the 2014 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition that its European fleet continues to grow and now comprises 206 aircraft.
“Traditionally, Europe has been a strong business jet market for Gulfstream,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “Our fleet has nearly doubled here in the last five years. Most of that growth has been large-cabin aircraft, but we've also seen significant mid-cabin growth since 2008.
“Europeans clearly like our aircraft, and that includes our new flagship, the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650, and our new super mid-sized aircraft, the G280. We had multiple deliveries of both models to the region in the past year, and customer response has been exceptional.”
Gulfstream's newest facility in Europe is its London sales and design center, which opened in June 2013. The 5,500-square-foot/511-square-meter center, located in the Mayfair district of central London, includes a showroom filled with leather, veneer, fabric and carpet selections. Conference rooms and customer offices are also on-site.
“Our London sales and design center has become an invaluable resource for customers,” said Trevor Esling, Gulfstream regional senior vice president, International Sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “It is fully staffed and provides an ideal setting for customers to go through the aircraft selection and cabin-design process with assistance from knowledgeable company personnel.”
Esling oversees three Gulfstream sales executives based in Europe. They are Rebecca Johnson, Wolfgang Schneider and Matthew Sandidge. The company also has 15 sales representatives throughout the region.
Along with a growing base of operators, Gulfstream's large presence in Europe includes approximately $114 million in parts and materials at warehouses in Madrid; Luton, England; and Basel, Switzerland.
About 30 miles from London, at London Luton Airport, one of the world's business aviation hubs, is Gulfstream Luton, the company's first international service center. The 10-year-old operation grew by 10 percent in the last year and now employs more than 200. Gulfstream Luton technicians service more than 100 aircraft monthly at their facility or on location elsewhere in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In the last year, Luton technicians and members of Gulfstream's European-based Field and Airborne Support Teams (FAST) have combined for more than 400 road trips to assist customers. European FAST missions include assisting customers in aircraft-on-ground situations.
“Fleet growth and customer service go hand-in-hand, so we will continue to position support resources in Europe as we add operators,” Flynn said.
