Sky Services is on the cusp of opening an FBO at Milan’s Linate Airport. The company, which already handles at Naples Airport, has everything in place to open but is now struggling with Italian bureaucracy for the final go-ahead. Operations manager Ida Rosa told EBAN: “We will be offering all services related to handling – everything from catering to a large passenger lounge.

“There is also no limit on the size of aircraft we will be able to handle there; it could be anything from a Piper to a Boeing 757.”

The company originally opened at Naples two years ago and has

been attempting to open at Linate ever since.

“It proved far easier to operate out of Naples, which is why we started there, but we can also do very good business out of Milan. Already a number of our clients have said they want our handling services in Milan after using us in Naples. Just two weeks ago we handled a vip configured 737 and the operator wanted us to continue handling the flight into Linate.

“But we were unable to do so and had to ask [Linate FBO] ATA to handle it, which lost us business.”

We asked Rosa if the increase in revenue from a Linate FBO would enable expansion into other airports. She replied: “We’d like to grow further. We’ve started from both the north and the south, so geographically our network is primed for expansion. First though, we need to change people’s attitudes towards business aviation.

“We want to bring clients a high quality service and make ourselves more accessible to them.”

The problems which have arisen through trying to open this latest FBO are symptomatic of Italy’s approach towards GA, according to Rosa. “Italy is a little behind other major European countries with regards to business aviation. I don’t think it’s down to the companies though; it’s more to do with

Italian laws governing the airports and the industry.

“For example, business aircraft face a number of restrictions flying into Naples, as the government is far more interested in commercial aviation. Despite this, everything is still going well for us at Naples

and we’re very happy with our business levels.”