Six months after opening for business in Italy, Bulgaria and France, Sky Valet Connect has strengthened its presence in Italy by entering an exclusive partnership with the business aviation terminal at Trieste airport. This new facility is part of the expansion of its facilities in the Mediterranean.

“I take great pride in the faith shown by Trieste airport in Sky Valet by supporting the development of its business aviation traffic,” says executive VP of Sky Valet and director of the general aviation BU of the Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur Group Michel Tohane. “Our offer will provide immediate access to the commercial power and the reputation of the brand and its network, and to heightened international visibility, while remaining independent. This latest success heralds a new step forwards in our expansion programme. It supports our ambition to create a denser regional network and to meet operators' explicit needs, in particular by harmonising the FBO offer in Europe.”

Trieste airport commercial director Vincenzo Zangrilli adds: “It is a good achievement for us to become part of an international network such as Sky Valet. Thanks to this agreement we will become, on an exclusive basis, the reference airport for all the general aviation in the north east of Italy, making available for our more demanding customers our infrastructures and the best hospitality.

“Our region is located in an ideal crossroads which allows easy access to beautiful touristic summer and winter destinations, but also to key business cities in north Italy, central and eastern Europe. In the few last years we have invested 7.2 million euros in creating a multi modal hub with top technologies, to ensure the best customer experience. Now, together with Sky Valet, we have all the tools to push Trieste airport in a market segment which presents interesting growth potential.”

With its Sky Valet Connect label, Sky Valet is already established in three countries: in France, its country of origin, at Avignon airport; in Italy, at Cuneo international airport, near Turin in Piedmont; and in Bulgaria, in pursuit of its expansion in eastern Europe, with three destinations operated by Omega Aviation in the capital of Sofia, in Bourgas, the country's largest port and tourist resort on the Black Sea, and at Gorna Oryahovitsa, the country's only private international airport.

The FBO network is now one of Europe's largest, with 28 destinations in five countries.