London has at least half a dozen good options for business aircraft operators looking to access the UK capital. But TAG Farnborough Airport is the only purpose-built facility that is totally dedicated to business aviation, and this probably explains why it continues to score highly in the annual survey of FBOs in which the readers of AIN—the group that publishes ABACE Convention News—rate their favorite providers of ground handling.

In generally flat economic conditions, the airport saw marginal growth in movements last year, rising to 25,149. But, significantly, there was a 5.5 percent increase in the largest aircraft types, such as Airbus Corporate Jets and the Embraer Lineage, with almost 1,000 of these flocking to Farnborough.

The increase in the average size of aircraft using the airport is reflected in one of TAG’s most recent improvements—the addition of a separate lounge on the top-floor of its three-story 4,830 sq m (52,000 sq ft) terminal to accommodate larger groups such as professional sports teams and rock bands. “This has been a great success, attracting more larger aircraft,” commented TAG Farnborough Airport CEO Brandon O’Reilly. “It means we can separate larger groups from other passengers, which is better for both of them.”

Another popular new addition is a gym built for visiting pilots who want to keep fit while waiting for their passengers. One day, the gym had to shut for two hours due to a technical problem and flight crew were soon bombarding staff with demands to re-open it. TAG (Booth H512) also uses an iPad app to gather customer feedback on all aspects of its services.

TAG has also invested time and money in being a better neighbor to the local suburban community, while offering pilots greater flexibility. As part of an airspace change proposal made to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, it hopes by around May to have permission for air traffic controllers to allow standard instrument departures that would avoid flights flying directly over the most populated local areas.

This is part of a wider green initiative under which Farnborough aims to be a completely carbon-neutral airport by 2019. It is one of a handful of airports that is ISO14001-compliant with an auditable environmental management system and last year sent no waste whatsoever for landfill. Everything was recycled or incinerated to make energy.

“The key difference is that we are the only [UK] airport solely dedicated to business aviation,” O’Reilly told AIN. “There are others that are hybrids with other activities like flying schools but here we are completely dedicated to business aviation and the ownership of the airport and the operation of the FBO are all concentrated in one company so there is no compromise on service.”

On the edge of the large airport site (formerly a British government military aviation research establishment), TAG owns and operates the Aviator Hotel, which has proven popular with operators and other customers. This year, the company is rolling out a new service that will mean flight crew can be given their hotel room keys as they arrive on the aircraft, avoiding the need to check in. The FBO was one of the first in the world to achieve the IS-BAH standards for ground handling set by the International Business Aviation Council.

In addition to TAG Farnborough’s eye-catching terminal building, Farnborough offers around 31,167 sq m (400,000 sq ft) of hangar space, and 130,064 sq m (1.4 million sq ft) of ramp parking area. The airport is located about 56 km (35 miles) south west of central London with convenient access via the M3 highway.