Execair - the aircraft handling division of Menzies Aviation Group - has opened its first base outside the UK with the establishment of a new operation at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA).

The opening of the new Execair base follows the award of the general aviation handling contract by BSCA, which has chosen to outsource the function for the first time.

Execair Charleroi has a fully-featured operations room, together with passenger and crew lounges with telephone and fax facilities. Its service portfolio includes fuelling, towing, loading, weather information, flight planning, hotel accommodation management, crew transfers, catering and limousine hire. It can handle any aircraft up to B747, and all necessary ground support equipment is on site.

Execair's first major assignment was the handling of executive aircraft movements associated with the recent Euro 2000 football tournament. The company projects handling 1,000 flights in its first year at Charleroi, rising to 4,500 flights in its third year of operation.

Said general manager Alex MacDonald: "With traffic increasing rapidly at the main Brussels airport, where a partial slot allocation programme is now in force, we want to have Charleroi recognised as the accessible and uncongested alternative for general aviation movements. We believe Charleroi has enormous potential as the natural entry point for all general aviation traffic for Brussels and its catchment area."

Added Pierre Fernemont, head of communications at BSCA: "Thanks to Execair's existing worldwide client base and connections, the company will make a major contribution to our efforts to achieve a higher profile for Charleroi in international aviation circles. We are delighted to welcome Execair to the airport."

Managing Execair Charleroi is Noel Deconinck, who has previously spent many years with Sabena and is fluent in four languages.

Execair provides business aircraft handling at Glagow, Edingburgh and Birmingham airports.