Swissport Executive Aviation has launched handling services for business aircraft at Malaga International airport in Spain. It is the company's first base in Spain; its network of 55 stations is spread across Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa and Asia.

The launch follows months spent identifying and purchasing new ground support facilities, sourcing

a luxury bus and installing VHF radio equipment.

Staff have already completed a comprehensive training course at another of Swissport's facilities to hone their skills in readiness for the opening.

In 2004, Swissport Executive Aviation expanded its facility in Munich, adding a new operations office and crew lounge, to enable the firm to attend to clients' needs more quickly and efficiently.

Vice president Alan George told EBAN: "We spent a long time considering the best way to expand at Munich and it was concluded that [at the GAT], areas for a lounge in the style and quality we wished to provide were too small.

We now give the ultimate in comfort to our most important guests, the flight crews."