London Southend's FBO has secured third place in the Business Air News FBO Survey 2024 for Europe, Middle East and Africa, and the team is delighted with the news, particularly as it has encountered a number of challenges over the past 12 months. As well as losing some team members, the facility lost its 24/7 status. It has nevertheless been fighting hard to continue arranging out-of-hours flights.

“This past year has been tough, particularly in terms of resources and personnel,” notes general manager Grant Fox. “Unfortunately, we had to navigate the loss of several team members from around the airport and Jet Centre, which directly impacted our ability to maintain the 24/7 operations we are known for – our USP. Despite these setbacks, we made every effort to continue providing night-time extensions for our clients wanting to get into the London region.

“In response, we worked closely with our ATC team to explore possible extensions beyond our standard hours, which proved invaluable during major events like the Champions League final. During June alone, we facilitated 42 out-of-hours movements, with an additional 26 in July.

“A significant number of these movements involved operators visiting London Southend for the first time, offering them a first-hand experience of our services and infrastructure. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive; many were pleasantly surprised by the ease of access to London, contrary to their initial expectations. This success led to a notable increase in new clientele, as word spread about our capability to support flights in and out of London beyond 2300.”

According to Fox, the most significant takeaway from this year is that, despite the challenges of losing its 24/7 status, the dedication and hard work of the London Southend Jet Centre and ATC team allowed it to continue accommodating a large volume of out-of-hours movements.

He adds: “Looking ahead, our goal is to reinstate 24/7 services by summer 2025. We are aware of the ongoing challenges at other London airports and FBOs, which we see as an opportunity to step in as a reliable alternative. Although it will require significant effort, we are confident that the rewards will be well worth it.

“Overall, we are thrilled and over the moon to have taken third place within EMEA and first place within the UK.”