Germany's DC Aviation GmbH, which is consolidating its FBO presence in Malta, is in negotiations with an airline to develop a vip charter service. "We are also in discussions with other potential customers in the Mediterranean region," says Stanley Bugeja, md DC Aviation Ltd (Malta). "We hope that in 2009 we will complete the first Maltese FBO in collaboration with the Maltese government and Malta international airport. Additionally we wish to strengthen the presence of DC Aviation in the Mediterranean region and continue to contribute to the growth of charter sales. We also believe we will reach potential customers who might require business jet management through a Maltese infrastructure."

Bugeja says the latest statistics published by the EBAA shows that Malta has registered a growth in business aviation activity. "Granted the activity in Malta is still very small when compared to other European airports but growth in the current economic climate is no mean feat."

The Maltese government, Bugeja says, has taken a number of economic measures to attract high net worth individuals and industries. "As a direct result the number of movements of business jets to the island has risen and, although Malta is a small economy, it has so far not experienced the economic downturn in the same way as mainland Europe."

DC Aviation, he adds, recognised the potential of Malta back in 2007 and in 2008 established an office offering business jet handling which also served as a regional sales office for its fleet of over 35 business jets.