Independently-owned Regional Airports Limited (RAL) is offering incentives to business aviation operators and aircraft owners to develop their facilities at its London Biggin Hill and London Southend Airports. RAL, which owns the two airports, is participating at EBACE in Geneva this month to promote its hangarage capabilities.

"Business aircraft manufacturers have been enjoying a strong surge of growth over the past few years and this trend is continuing," said Peter Lonergan, airport director at London Biggin Hill Airport.

"Space to keep this growing fleet of aircraft - especially in the UK - is in short supply and London Biggin Hill and London Southend are ideal for this market sector. We are very keen to attract both hangar operators and individual aircraft owners, with rent free periods in the first instance."

RAL is offering a range of options, including renting the land and providing hangarage on an individual aircraft basis in the short or long term.

London Biggin Hill currently has two hangars that are fully occupied and is close to agreement on a further 44,000 square feet of space, some of which will be available to individual aircraft owners.

London Southend has three sites available and is in discussion with interested parties for these and it also has two large sites suitable for MRO or FBO operators.

The two airports have also been marked out for their suitability in servicing vip corporate and charter flights when London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012. This follows UK CAA recommendations to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee that more airports in the South East could be used as gateways for participants and visitors to the Games.

The original Olympic bid identified London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted and London City airports, but it has been highlighted that additional airports in and around London, including Biggin Hill and Southend, offer good access for business aviation flights, with surface links or helicopter services operating to and from the events.

The CAA submission identifies the potential impact on London City operations, subject to the restrictions that might be required, which could be significant. In particular, operations on the westerly runway could be affected if aircraft departing Runway 28 were required not to overfly the main Olympic Park on the grounds of security, safety or noise impact.

"London Southend Airport is ideally located for the Olympics and by 2012 we will have an integrated airport railway station, complementing our new #25 million passenger terminal, offering rail access directly to Stratford and taking just 30 minutes. Stratford will be the Olympic Arrival Railway Station," said London Southend Airport's director Bruce Campbell.

London Southend Airport is located 35 miles from Canary Wharf, 40 miles from central London and 18 miles from the principal M25 motorway.

Campbell added: "London Southend Airport is already experiencing an increased number of business aviation movements - last year the airport saw business aviation activity grow 40 per cent, reflected largely in the increasing number of fractionals regularly using the airport."

The two airports will also be involved in flying private aircraft to Germany for the World Cup in June. "Day visitors can fly from Biggin Hill and return late at night to London Southend, avoiding any hassle and expensive, limited hotel accommodation. London Southend Airport welcomes these late returning flights and will provide special terms for UK operators who wish to reposition to London Biggin Hill in the morning," said Campbell.