London Gatwick-based Interflight Executive Air Services has recently exper-ienced a shift in traffic type towards larger aircraft. Md David Newcomb explained: “Over the last year we've been handling more Challengers, Global Expresses, GVs and BBJs, along with airline derivatives. I think it’s because larger aircraft are becoming more readily available, so people are buying them up.”

Newcomb has found that the aircraft tend to belong to corporations rather than charter companies. He said: “If someone owns a GIV then there is a natural tendency to want to upgrade to a GV. I would say that deals people now pick up on new aircraft almost certainly relates to the increase in large traffic we’ve experienced.”

Although competition in the London area has hotted up over recent years, Newcomb explained: “I think we’re also seeing more of the larger aircraft because airports like Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Northolt can’t handle many aircraft of this size. On the flip side we’ve seen less of the smaller aircraft, including Citations and Learjets. In fact turboprops are almost unheard of here, although they’re most welcome.”

Slot availability has also improved at Gatwick, Newcomb added: “One of the effects of September 11 was that it depressed the airline market, allowing GA operators to more easily access inter-national airports due to airline cut backs. A small increase

in general slot availability corresponds with a very big increase for us. If we move up to a 1% share of total slot avail-ability it means a 50% increase in our traffic. In previous years we’ve had to turn people away, but fortunately that’s not the case so much now.”

Like many other European FBOs, Interflight is keen to expand. But again it is airport bureaucracy which has proved the stumbling block. “It’s very difficult to get the go-ahead for expansion here. I’ve put my money on the table, so now I’m really just waiting for a response from the airport. To be honest though, I’m still unsure as to whether it will or won’t happen,” he said.

As FBO md, Newcomb remains realistic about business levels over the coming year: “I think this year the industry hasn’t started out on the best foot, due to the possibility of war in the Middle East. Corporations probably won’t be dashing out to pick up the latest GVs or Global Expresses. So if business in 2003 is as good for us as last year I will be very pleased, and if it’s only as good as 2001 it would be around

what I expect.”