Aerea FBO, which this year celebrates its third anniversary as well as winning EBAN's FBO survey, believes that it has contributed to a rebirth of Malaga Airport. Yolanda Avalos, FBO manager, says: "Malaga's business aviation facility is one of the most popular in Europe. Monthly figures show a good growth and confirm that it has managed to keep business strong during the adverse economic climate of recent years."

Avalos adds: "Aerea has achieved a significant number of new customers with growth in all areas of business. Our priority is our customers and paying attention to every detail and requirement. This has encouraged several operators to base some of their fleet in Malaga, either during summer periods or on a permanent basis. Despite the current economic climate that exists in Europe and that especially in Spain, it seems that the worst is now over for business aviation. Growth has been significant in recent months."

Aerea operates the only FBO providing vip handling services at the GAT which was inaugurated in 2007. Avalos says: "The staff are highly qualified and bilingual in English and Spanish as well as serving clients in German, French and Dutch."

Facilities include a vip room and a spacious 60 sq m crew lounge with all the facilities offering views of the general aviation aircraft parking areas. Aerea FBO has recently opened a business centre which includes offices and meeting rooms for use by the hour or at daily, monthly or annual rentals.

Second-placed Guernsey-based FBO Aiglle Flight Support made one of the most successful ever debuts in the ranking, shooting into second place.

Aiglle's joint md Simon Fawcett says: "I'm obviously delighted to see the hard work of our staff noted in such a prestigious award. We are a small, tightly knit team who do all that is humanly possible to make sure the small things come together to deliver first class service for our customers."

Aiglle was formed when a consortium of the hangar customers took the business over following the death of the hangar's founder in 2000. The business has 20,000 square feet of heated and de-humidified premium quality hangar space, with additional facilities of a pilot's lounge with wireless internet access and a large boardroom to host meetings of up to 20 people.

Fawcett says: "Aiglle's priority is on providing a warm, friendly and efficient service and this has allowed passenger numbers and customers to steadily increase over the past 12 years. It now offers facilities for a number of local owners and visiting aeroplanes looking after fixed wing, rotary and jet aircraft and has also been successful in winning contracts to support many regular flights and even medevac flights. Over 10,000 passengers now use Aiglle each year."