Universal Aviation in Paris has fully restored its operations less than four months after a fire damaged its lobby and offices at Le Bourget Airport.

"The facility's hangar was completely untouched, and employees continued to handle aircraft and perform day-to-day operations as normal," said Sandrine Jackson, manager of Universal in Paris. "All trips were handled successfully over these past few months while we restored

the lounges and certain offices in the facility."

She adds: "We were able to establish back-up services to accommodate the reconstruction. I would like to personally thank all of our clients who have shown such great commitment to the Paris team."

Jonathan Howells, regional director Europe, Middle East and Africa, says that European operations are also being boosted by Universal's upgrade to full ground handling services in

Italy. "We've been been providing supervisory handling services to airports throughout Italy through locations in Rome and Milan for almost 20 years. Now, these locations feature a full inventory of new ground handling equipment to support all aircraft types," he says. "The move is the result of liberalisation in the ground handling market."

Universal has opened its Middle East Operations Center (MEOC). Jess Gassaway, gm, says it provides full trip support services including flight planning, weather briefs, ground handling arrangements, and hotel and transportation accommodations. "It gives our Middle East-based clients specialist access in their own time zone, 24/7," he adds.

Executive Flight Services in Dubai, which receives training and service support from Universal, plans to open a new hangar facility by mid 2007. Onsite amenities include catering arrangements, crew and passenger airside transport.