Jetex Flight Support has expanded its network in France with the May 11 opening of a new FBO at Marseille Provence Airport, one of the country’s busiest business aviation destinations.

The location, which offers FBO and ramp services, is open 24/7 and provides dedicated passenger and crew lounges, flight-planning area, concierge, round-the-clock customs clearance and one-hour prior notification for flights. “Being the second largest French city, with no prior permission required or other notable restrictions, Marseille is a top candidate to be our second FBO location in France,” said Loic La Joye, Jetex’s FBO network manager.

The facility will be fully operational in time for France’s hosting of the UEFA European Championship soccer tournament this summer, added Julien Pedusseau, the facility’s manager. “This Jetex Marseille FBO will facilitate convenient access to UEFA games in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse,” he said. In addition to access to the south of France, the site is near the Mediterranean playground of Monaco, 45 minutes away by helicopter.

Dubai-based Jetex (Booth N090) also has a facility at Paris Le Bourget. It noted that it will be further expanding its business in France in the near future.

On the eve of EBACE, the company announced it has secured a tender from the Moroccan National Airports Authority (ONDA) to establish five new FBOs, the first such facilities in the North African country and the company’s footprint in Africa. It has already begun private jet ground support at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, Marrakech Menara and Rabat-Salé, where Swissport was also chosen to provide handling services. At the seasonal destinations of Agadir-Al Massira, and Dakhla, Jetex was named as the exclusive ground services provider. At all five airports Jetex will have onsite customs service.

“By partnering with Jetex, ONDA marks a new strategic step in the development of business aviation activity across Morocco’s airports,” said Zouhair Mohammad El Aoufir, ONDA’s CEO. “Jetex is a global player in the industry and these new FBO installations will undeniably bring a significant improvement in hosting and handling passengers across business aviation.”

Construction on the western-style FBO is expected to begin by the end of the summer in Marrakech. “Marrakech is number one for business jet movement in Morocco,” said Jetex president and CEO Adel Mardini. “There’s around 4,000 movements per year, that’s why we have a plan to make a big investment in this airport.” Next to follow will be Rabat, Casablanca and the vacation destinations of Agadir and Dakleh which each see approximately 500 movements a year. “For us Morocco is very important, first of all because it’s a stable country, a destination for private jets and it has the highest number of flight movements in North Africa,” Mardini told AIN ahead of the show. “The vision of the Moroccan government is to make all these airports a destination for the general aviation business, and they want their economy to grow, and this is why they asked for an international brand such as Jetex to be in Morocco.”

The company, which is known for its trip support services, will also extend its ground handling network to Spain and Greece starting in June. In Spain it will operate at Barcelona, Malaga and Madrid, while in Greece, though it will be based in Athens, it will provide ground handling at all the country’s airports. “Both destinations are very important to our business,” said Mardini. “Many private jet owners fly to these destinations for business and vacations. He added the instability in some areas of the Middle East has caused some local owners to venture further afield. “These people have started flying to Europe more and more, Greece and Spain are one of the most common destinations for the people in our area, that’s why we chose both of them. In addition to the existing business, we believe that this will see huge growth in the future,” Mardini concluded.