The newly renovated general aviation terminal (GAT) at Madrid Barajas airport is now fully open and available to business aviation operators. Refurbishment of the GAT, named Spanish FBO Madrid, began in April 2019, when Aena SME, the state-owned company that manages airports and heliports in Spain, selected a consortium consisting of Universal Aviation Spain, United Aviation Service and General Aviation Service, to co-manage and renovate the existing facility.

Spanish FBO Madrid features all new lounges and meeting rooms for crew and passengers. In addition to the shared common lounges, Universal Aviation Spain has its own remodelled private lounge, exclusively for Universal Aviation customers.

“Operators who have been to the GAT previously will not recognise it, as the renovations make it look and feel like a completely different and brand new facility,” says UAS general manager Gonzalo Barona Jr, who will also serve as manager of Spanish FBO Madrid. “The complete design was made with user experience in mind, from the look and feel of the lounges to the ease in which business aviation operators will clear customs and immigration. While renovations were taking place in the shared areas of the GAT, Universal Aviation Spain also completely renovated our private lounges, which are gorgeous and free to use for our clients.”

The consortium is also actively completing renovations to the GAT at Barcelona-El Prat International airport. This will be managed under the name Spanish FBO Barcelona. “We’re making great progress on the renovations at Barcelona and are excited to be complete and ready early in the first quarter of 2020,” adds Barona Jr.

The three companies in the consortium are contracted to manage both GATs for the next five years.