After discussions lasting between two and three months, BBA Group has agreed to purchase Lynton Group for US$55 million (£37 million). EBAN caught up with chief executive and founder of Lynton, Christopher Tennant, shortly after the news broke. We asked him how he believed this deal would affect the customer. Tennant said: "I think it will be invisible. It should be invisible because there's nothing that they [BBA] need change.

"This is their first major acquisition in the UK that is related to corporate aviation activity. I can see no reason why it should change in any way as far as the customer is concerned.

"I've spoken to quite a few customers today and I can't see anything in terms of the style we do business or the services that we offer, that should change at all."

So if the corporate aviation industry in the UK is to mirror the world's leading industries, the bigger fish will now begin to swallow the smaller ones? Tennant said: "I think there will be major consolidation and indeed there has been consolidation of substance over the last few years. If you look at the corporate aviation industry five or ten years ago, it's a very different place to what it is now.

"There are seven or eight very major players and that's largely because the industry has become an interesting investment opportunity whereas before it was, in some ways, a plaything.

"Now we have proper returns, proper opportunities, proper strategy and a stable industry. It has brought onboard new investors of a serious nature who take a long-term view of the growth opportunities."

Over the coming years, Tennant sees continued market expansion. "The industry has enormous growth opportunities but those with the greatest amount of capital to invest are obviously the ones that are going to remain in the strongest positions. And to a very large extent, it's going to be related to location, location, location."

And, as regards the UK, will that location be Luton? "Statistically, it is today. And there's no reason it shouldn't remain that way tomorrow but one has to maintain outstanding service because there are other alternatives and the other alternatives are growing in size as fast as Luton is.

"I think Luton will always be the UK's number one in the near future but one mustn't be complacent about it. There are other very strong, service-oriented corporate airport opportunities."

And they are? "Farnborough is the major one, Northolt is going to grow relatively fast. They all give very good service, all have different advantages and disadvantages but they're all equally well-run opportunities."

As regards the continuation of the Lynton name, Tennant said that it hadn't yet been discussed. He told EBAN: "That will come up in the future but not in the near future."

Commenting on the purchase, BBA Group chief executive Roberto Quarta said: "The acquisition of Lynton significantly enhances BBA Aviation's reach into Europe, extending the service capability already established in the US. Our increased FBO presence at four airports in the UK adding to the two already in Europe, combined with the increased repair and overhaul work, helps to establish BBA Aviation as a leading player in the European business aviation market place."With Luton in Europe and Washington National in the USA, BBA now owns the top-rated FBOs in both continents and provides a strong platform on which to continue to grow a high quality global business aviation network."

Tennant concluded: "It is rewarding for me, having been the architect of Lynton's growth over the last 18 years, supported by an outstanding team of service-oriented people, to know that the market leader was attracted by the opportunities we have to offer."

The purchase agreement has been made on a debt free cash free basis and the process is to be satisfied in cash out of BBA's existing resources. The transaction will be completed once regulatory approval is received.