Asian business aircraft operators planning trips to Italy may well want to talk meet ground handling specialist Sky Services at the ABACE show. The company, which is making its first appearance at ABACE (Booth P537), has built a network of FBOs at almost a dozen Italian airports over the past two decades and can provide handling supervision at more than 40 airports in total.

The most recent addition to the chain is Siena Airport at the heart of the popular Tuscany region. Last year, Sky Services won an international tender for the right to handle business aviation traffic at the airport through the end of 2035. The company already has FBOs at the following airports: Milan Linate and Malpensa, Venice, Treviso, Verona, Rome Ciampino, Naples Capodichino, Bari, Brindisi and Salerno on the Amalfi coast.

At Siena Ampugnano Airport, Sky Services is overseeing modernization work to a VIP terminal. Unusually, Siena has 180 hectares (445 acres) of space and so has plenty of room for private aircraft to be parked for prolonged periods of time. Sky Services is offering customers the chance to use Siena as a base for visits to Italy since it can be very hard to get longer-term parking at other airports in the country. Hangar accommodation also is available.

Privately-owned Sky Services has made significant investments in facilities and décor at its FBOs. These all include rest areas and work stations for both crew and passengers, as well as its own Sky Cafés serving food and beverages. The company also operates its own catering division, called Sky Cuisine, which can provide an extensive choice of high quality inflight meals.

According to Sky Services, the company has negotiated competitive pricing for Jet- A fuel at multiple Italian airports. Its fuel department can provide pricing based on multiple trips or for ad hoc purchases.

Through a new partnership with the Avcard payment program offered by World Fuel Services, Sky Services, which is now part of the Air Elite FBO chain, now offers its own branded Sky Card. Clients can use this to settle all invoices for services including handling, fuel, flight planning, hotels and ground transportation. It is fully integrated with the Avcard network and can be used at over 7,500 locations worldwide.

The company has its own ground handling equipment at all locations, and provides extensive training for its personnel. It also employs a team of EASA Part 145-approved mechanics who can provide aircraft-on-ground support at any of its FBOs. Another component of the Sky Services portfolio is its flight academy, which provides pilot training in Milan, Naples and Brindisi.

According to the company, it offers Chinese operators full support with all aspects of flying to, from and within Italy, including flight permits and slots. Through agreements with handlers in other parts of Europe, it can also offer preferential arrangements for further travel.

In 2016, Sky Services supported almost 40,000 movements, which represented an increase in traffic of 6 percent compared with 2015.