F 1
BUSINESS AIRPOR T INTERNATIONAL J U L Y 2 0 1 9 | 31
The Grand Prix is held less than 10 miles from the
airport at The Circuit of the Americas and Million is looking
to benefit from the event. Terry Cross, chief operations
officer of Million Air says, “One of the key investment
considerations is balancing ramp space with the building
facilities. We have to have enough capacity to handle peak
volumes, but in doing so avoid compromise on terminal and
FBO facilities.
“Client and aircrew expectations on the ground, on arrival
and departure, are all about providing a quality experience.
Major events typically mean a three to eight fold increase in
the amount of aircraft and passenger
traffic, which is great for business.
We can get spin-off referral
opportunities, continue to build our
reputation as the place join in, and
have the opportunity to support
the wider community
“However, the real opportunity
is to stand out by stepping up
the customer experience. We
become the first impression of their
destination. Typically, we bring in
luxury vehicles, high-end watches and
travel resorts to create an engaging fun
atmosphere celebrating the event.”
Another development in-progress that has Grand
Prix considerations is at Liège Airport, which is just 21
miles from Spa Francorchamps, the home of the Belgian
Grand Prix. The airport, in partnership with ASL Private Jet
Services, is constructing a new hangar, business aviation
apron and terminal that is expected to open in summer
2020. Maxine Wauters, marketing manager of ASL Group
says, “Although the F1 Grand Prix is going to be one of the
highlights of our activities at Liège, we intend to make it an
important hub for business aviation in general.”
Traffic increases
While a Grand Prix is being held, coping with the significant
increase in aircraft movements is a challenge for a FBO.
Galanopoulos says, “Local airports are normally very
accommodating during major sporting events. They
will typically increase their capacity, arrange parking
arrangements for the aircraft and have more staff on standby
than normal. For any big event – sporting or cultural - one
of the biggest constraints will be the availability of aircraft
and securing slots. We are used to working with alternative
airports to ensure capacity for our clients.”.
The Monaco Grand Prix is arguably the jewel in the F1’s
crown and generates a considerable amount of business
jet movements at Cannes Airport in the South of France.
The race is quickly followed by the Cannes Film Festival.
Jérôme Ferasin, chief commercial officer at Sky Valet, which
Above: The business aviation
terminal being built at Liège
Airport includes VIP facilities
and (Inset) a 2,100m2 hangar