Air Elite® Network Continues Global Growth Strategy
Las Vegas, NV (November 17, 2015) – World Fuel Services announced today that six new locations have signed with the Air Elite® Network since EBACE 2015, expanding the global network to 49 Diamond Service FBOs.
The network of uniquely-exceptional FBOs grew steadily in 2015, adding 12 new members since January. Air Elite members are valued contributors to defining the network’s strategy and are encouraged to contribute to the best practices established throughout the network. Going forward, the network continues to seek new members, working toward the goal of 150 locations.
The latest additions to the Air Elite Network include:
Sky Services Milan, Italy LIML
Sky Services Venice, Italy LIPZ
Dassault Falcon Service, Paris, Le Bourget, France LFPB
KaiserAir, Inc. Oakland, CA, KOAK
YU Lounge Mauritius FIMP
Grafair Jet Center, Stockholm, Sweden ESSB
As a privately-owned company, Sky Services (www.skyservices.it) currently operates a network of ten modern, full-service FBO facilities throughout Italy, each with their own staff, facilities and equipment. Their attention to detail and dedication to excellence in customer service makes the addition of their Milan and Venice locations a natural fit for the Air Elite Network. In addition to their FBO locations, Sky Services offers catering through SKY Cuisine, fuel, brokerage, supervision & permits at all Italian airports, a “SKY card” for payment of all aircraft-related services and a certified Flight Academy with four bases in Italy.
“Sky Services is a continuously evolving company. Thanks to our dynamism and our adaptability to the market conditions, we have registered so far a steady growth in the General Aviation sector. Having had the opportunity to enter the Air Elite family has meant a further important step for our company. We are proud to have become a member of Air Elite with two of our most important and representative FBO locations. This opportunity will give Sky Services a further chance of visibility and development, and for our customers, it represents an additional guarantee for quality and service.” said Simone Klümper, Sky Service’s Marketing Manager.
Dassault Falcon Service is present in all areas of business aviation, including FBO services during stopovers at Le Bourget airport. Their FBO ranks among the top 10 FBOs in the Eastern Hemisphere, accommodates all categories of aircraft including the largest ones, and provides full assistance to flight crews. The FBO offers a large range of services to passengers and crew members.
“Our FBO in Paris Le Bourget is very proud to share its 50 year expertise with the best FBOs of the world in joining the Air Elite Network,” said Bertrand d’Yvoire, Dassault Falcon Service’s Vice President Airline/FBO - Accountable Manager.
KaiserAir Inc. (www.kaiserair.com) at Oakland International Airport has been an Ascent branded member of the World Fuel Services Network since 2013. The KaiserAir FBO in Oakland offers personalized service, on-site maintenance and the best guaranteed fuel price in the San Francisco Bay Area. No other FBO is better situated to support operations in the Bay Area due to easy access to the city and Silicon Valley. KaiserAir will also be the premier and preferred location for aircraft heading to Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara in February.
“We are excited to be a part of the Air Elite Network and proud to be considered among some of the World’s best FBOs,” said Otto Wright, Kaiser Air’s General Manager. “We take pride in the level of service that we offer our customers, so we see that as a great fit with the high standards that are a part of this program.”
YU Lounge Mauritius (www.yulounge.com) is now the second YU Lounge to join the Air Elite Network, following their sister location in St Kitts & Nevis. Operating 24/7, YU Lounge Mauritius features a 25,000 square feet private terminal with luxurious arrival and departure lounges, on-site customs and immigration clearance facilities as well as a duty free shop and a conference room, where passengers and crew receive a first-rate service. They also boast a 560,000 square feet apron parking and 20,000 square feet state of the art hangar with additional services such as aircraft wash and valeting, gourmet catering or Mototok towing are just a preview of the wide range of services offered at YU Lounge Mauritius.
“YU Lounge Mauritius is extremely happy to be part of the Air Elite Network, as we already recognize the high value of such a partnership. We are proud to contribute to the expansion of the network in this part of the world, being the second Air Elite location in Africa,” said Sylvain Faucher, CEO of YU Lounge.
Dedicated to the highest standards of service, with swiftness and discretion in mind, Grafair Jet Center (www.grafair.se) at Bromma Stockholm Airport provides a first class environment and red carpet service to business and general aviation travelers visiting Sweden. The unique all-inclusive concept, the living room atmosphere and the relaxed, yet professional approach has proven to be successful. Coffee is not self-serve from a machine with twenty buttons - the team at Grafair Jet Center takes that extra care and serves the coffee to each person on a tray, like they always have.
“The Air Elite membership is giving us the right tools to take the next step in improving the overall experience and value visiting Stockholm. We assure everyone this next step will not change our personality, as the Parrot and the ice-cream will remain,” said Johan Erik Emmoth, Grafair Jet Center’s CEO/FBO Manager.
“As a result of this strategic growth, flight operators are able to find more Air Elite locations worldwide where they can rely on the consistently high standards of Air Elite Diamond Service, which stem from The Ritz-Carlton customer service philosophy. Flight operators choosing Air Elite Diamond Service FBOs also benefit from enhanced FlyBuys Rewards, coupled with the Diamond Dividends Loyalty Program, which rewards operators for traveling within the Air Elite Network,” said John Rau, World Fuel Services’ Executive Vice President of Aviation.
The Air Elite Network is comprised of 49 uniquely exceptional diamond service locations worldwide and continues to grow steadily. The network was established in late 2011 and each FBO must meet a number of airport, facility and service quality standards in order to qualify for membership.
About Air Elite®
Air Elite® is a global network of uniquely exceptional FBOs. The premier network of Diamond Service locations is strategically positioned around the world. The comfort of consistency is delivered through elevated facility standards and benchmarking The Ritz-Carlton philosophy on customer service. Air Elite offers customers the pleasure of variety with the local expertise and regional nuances of independently owned FBOs. www.AirEliteNetwork.com
About World Fuel Services Corporation
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, World Fuel Services is a global fuel logistics, transaction and payment processing company, principally engaged in the distribution of fuel and related products and services in the aviation, marine and land transportation industries. World Fuel Services sells fuel and delivers services to its clients at more than 8,000 locations in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
The company's global team of market makers provides deep domain expertise in all aspects of aviation, marine and land fuel management. Aviation customers include commercial airlines, cargo carriers, private aircraft and fixed base operators (FBOs), as well as the United States and foreign governments. World Fuel Services' marine customers include international container and tanker fleets, cruise lines and time-charter operators, as well as the United States and foreign governments. Land customers include petroleum distributors, retail petroleum operators, and industrial, commercial, and government accounts. The company also offers transaction management services which consist of card payment solutions and merchant processing services to customers in the aviation, marine and land transportation industries. For more information, call 305-428-8000 or visit www.wfscorp.com.
Source: World Fuel Services Corporation
