Aviation Affairs Ltd History

1997

Aviation Affairs Ltd was formed on 16th June 1997 by Chris Potts, former Ground Services Manager with UK Charter Carrier Excalibur Airways, and Ann Mitchell, Senior Cabin Crew with UK Charter Airline Airworld. The concept was to provide airlines and aviation-related companies with ad-hoc management, commercial and supervisory support in the aspect of ground handling, airport and aviation related areas.

1998

The company was awarded consultancy with one of the world's biggest airline brokers whereby Aviation Affairs Ltd became their preferred supplier of Airport Management the UK, Europe and, in some cases, further afield. This has since ceased. At that time one of the main areas of business was the provision of commercial support to a variety of overseas airline handling and supervisory companies. Specialist airline printing provided another important growth area for the company and we currently provide Printavia Switzerland with its UK customer service and sales support , producing such items as baggage tags, boarding cards, tickets and other specialist travel related products.

2000

Aviation Affairs Ltd became an integral part of AviQ UK Ltd, offering JAA/JAR quality auditing services to the aviation industry in the areas of ground handling, cabin services, cargo, flight deck, maintenance and health & safety. January 2000 we were requested to provide our station management services to an airline who performed twice-weekly charter flights for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), out of RAF Brize Norton.

For the Sydney Olympics 2000, we provided Station Management Support for a UK sports event company at Sydney Airport. May 2000 brought another milestone when Virgin Sun Airlines appointed Aviation Affairs Ltd as its station management provider, providing operational support at East Midlands Airport. We were also awarded the contract for ticket desk support for Style Holidays, and were appointed by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to provide airport support and flight riding services for its weekly cruise operation from Manchester, Gatwick, Edinburgh and Oslo.

2001

In September 2001 we began providing flight riding services for a cruise company to the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East on a fortnightly basis. In October 2001, ski specialist Inghams appointed us as their airport representative for the winter at East Midlands Airport.

2002

In January 2002 we were again awarded the contact to provide airport supervision and flight riding services to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for its Summer charters to Barcelona from Manchester, Glasgow and Heathrow airports. May 2002 brought the start of the Summer season, and with it a variety of new customer airlines and tour operators at East Midlands Airport - Prime Airlines, MD Airlines, Channel Express and Excel Airways, along with Goldtrail and Inghams on the tour operating side.

In August 2002 we were awarded the contract to provide airport supervision and flight riders for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, for their Winter program to the Caribbean. Winter 2002/3 continued with a lot of corporate business, as well as many extra flights for the military.

2003

Summer 2003 brought us a new customer at EMA -Astraeus Ltd, with a twice-weekly operation, and in June 2003 we were also awarded a 4 month contract to provide Station Management Support at Manchester Airport. In June we were again awarded the contract to provide our flight riding services to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines for their Winter long-haul operation to the Caribbean. In October 2003 we were contracted to provide Station Management Support in Glagow for Astraeus, with a weekly operation to the Gambia. Monarch Airlines appointed us to look after its weekly flights from EMA to Amritsar, aswell as looking after the tour operator Sun Flight, specialists to India.

On the Cruise front we were awarded the Airport Station Management function at Heathrow this winter for Hebridean Island Cruises, whose passengers would be travelling on long-haul schedule carriers to the ship in the Indian Ocean. In November 2003 we were appointed by Mazda Cars to provide the aviation support to their Mazda 3-car launch to the press in Newquay. Mazda continue to use our services for these events.

2004

We again provided Station Management Support for a UK sports company, who had a large operation to Athens for the 2004 Olympics. Summer 2004 continued at a pace and we obtained Excel Airways in Exeter and Brize Norton as well as EMA, British Midland (Charter) appointed us to look after 2 flights per week to the Mediterranean, and Fly Jet appointed us as there Station Management Support company in BHX and EMA. We also provided station auditing in Accra (Ghana) for them.

Islandsflug became a new customer with 5 flights a week from EMA for Summer 2004. Holiday Options, a Croation and Corsican specialist appointed Aviation Affairs Ltd to provide there Tour Operator support at EMA for Summer 2004. In November 2004, Thomas Cook outsourced its tour operating facilities around the UK, and we were awarded the EMA operation.

2005

After months of negotiations we were awarded the tour operator support function in Glasgow and Edinburgh, to be followed by East Midlands for MyTravel in May and June 2005. Croatia, Euro Manx and JetX were new customers for the Summer of 2005.

2006

LAT Air charter based an A320 at EMA for the summer of 2006 and we were involved in all aspects of this operation. We also had a challenging winter with the start up of a long haul operation to the Indian sub-continent on a based B767-200 aircraft.

2007

We decided the time was right to re brand the company and we invested in a new corporate ID with a subtle name change to Advantage (Aviation Affairs Ltd).

Air Malta replaced the LAT Air Charter aircraft for the summer of 2007, and again we were heavily involved in this operation. We decided as a company the time was right to look for other avenues and in May of 2007 we started approaching the subject of gaining a licence to handle corporate and business aircraft at East Midlands Airport, This licence was awarded by the Airport Authority in December that year.

2008

We went live in the spring of 2008 with the corporate handling and continue to move forward. Summer 2008 brought a based XLA B737-800 to which we provided support until their demise in September, closely followed by LTE and Futura.

In July 2008 we moved the business to a purpose built office where we now operate the company from. In September we went to the Olympics in Beijing for 5 weeks, providing Airport operational support to a major sports company. And to close the year we provided Flight Management and operational support on a 3 week tour around USA and Europe for a major film premier on a corporate A319. November brought us a new carrier to look after at EMA , Jet2 on a weekly flight to Egypt.

2009

2009 saw a major down turn in the market however we held our own with a 3 month Military Support contract as well as gaining some new customers, Saga Airlines, Koral Blue Airlines and Goldtrail Holidays. The Advantage Flight Support FBO is growing steadily and we are currently working on some major projects for the coming year.

2010

2010 saw a major down turn in the market however we held our own with a 3 month Military Support contract as well as gaining some new customers, Saga Airlines, Koral Blue Airlines and Goldtrail Holidays. The Advantage Flight Support FBO is growing steadily and we are currently working on some major projects for the coming year.

Roll on London 2012!...