Take a glance at this year’s FBO Survey and you’ll notice that some of the best scores were achieved by small, independent bases. Of course, the large FBO networks like Signature Flight Support, TAG Aviation and Jet Aviation feature in the top 25, but the little guys are fighting back.

With an increasing number of FBO brands experiencing growth in Europe, it might appear that the lesser-known independent brands are being overwhelmed but, somehow, in the midst of the FBO giants, smaller bases are making names for themselves.

Speaking with the likes of Mallorcair, ExecuJet and London City Jet Centre, it has become clear that they have one thing in common – they understand that maintaining customer focus and dealing with the needs of clients with the ‘personal touch’ are key to attracting and, most importantly, keeping clients’ custom. That’s not to say that the FBO chains aren’t working hard any more, but it may be argued that they lack the personal touch of the independent facilities.

One of the selling points that the big names do offer, however, is consistency. Whereas some business travellers and flight crews appreciate the home comforts and individualised service offered by small FBOs, others prefer the consistency offered by the likes of Signature and Jet Aviation – knowing that you will receive the same level of service and enjoy the same atmosphere wherever you fly.

Where these companies may come unstuck, though, is in their belief that business aviation professionals actually want to visit carbon-copy FBOs whenever they travel in Europe. Of course, it all comes down to personal preference; the established brands will always attract custom with their high-

tech facilities and consistent services, and the smaller facilities will no doubt rely on their niche appeal and attention to detail to appeal to corporate fliers.

Regardless, the face of European fixed base operations is changing, and without doubt the most prominent name in the business at the moment is Signature Flight Support, a company that seems to be on a crusade to snap up FBOs and expand its already sizeable footprint in Europe.

To date, the company has acquired Heathrow’s Harrods Aviation and Executive Aircraft Services, Ireland’s FBO Shannon and purchased a majority interest in Athens Aviation Services. The most significant acquisition came last year, when the company bought Execair for £11.75 million, which more than trebled the size of its European FBO network.

With such an aggressive acqui-sition strategy, Signature appears to be heralding a new age for FBO operating, with the emphasis on offering ‘convenience and connec-tivity’ throughout the expanding network. How other bases and FBO networks respond to this has yet to be seen but, suffice to say, the choices available to operators when visiting an airport are increasing.

With the number of FBOs in Europe increasing by the month, and those that have enjoyed a successful 2004 already planning to expand their facilities and services, it leads me to wonder how the business aviation handling market will look in 10 years’ time. Will large FBO networks hold the monopoly on aircraft, passenger and crew handling, or will operators continue to hold favour with the smaller independent bases? As the results of the 2005 FBO Survey show – size isn’t everything.