Marshall Aviation Services is to operate its first FBO at Birmingham airport, UK. The facility will formally open for business in the coming months.

The company has agreed a long-term lease for the FBO, built in 2011 and located to the west of the airport. The glass fronted 4,000 sqm building includes 2,500 sqm of hangarage, which will be available both to resident and visiting aircraft. Under the previous operator EuroJet Aviation, the FBO was named Best Handling Agent/FBO at the 2013 BACA Awards.

The FBO is regularly used by BAE Avro RJ executive charter operator Cello Aviation and FlairJet, Marshall's aircraft operations, charter and management company, will also have a presence there. The facility will continue to offer fuel services via Avfuel.

Freddie Judge returns to his previous role to run the facility day-to-day as FBO manager, and will be overseen by Pauline Smith, who has served in senior FBO roles with ExecuJet and Harrods Aviation in Dubai and London Stansted. Smith also managed Al Bateen Executive's DhabiJet facility before joining Marshall in 2012.

Birmingham airport, the seventh biggest airport in the UK, offers a number of features that make it attractive to business aviation, including 24/7 opening hours, a 10,000 ft runway, low cost apron parking for the largest of aircraft types and excellent ground transportation links.

Marshall md Steve Jones says the move will be key to expanding his company's portfolio. “Our new Birmingham facility will offer first class handling services, accom-modating aircraft up to Gulfstream 550 or Global size in the hangar. We will also be able to offer line support capabilities to the entire Textron family, plus Globals or Challengers in the near term.”