Harrods Aviation history
Harrods Aviation's roots are at Heathrow, where the very first Field Aircraft Services hangar was a base for the Hunting-Clan Airline fleet. Following government legislation in the late 1950s, Hunting-Clan Airline was dissolved in 1960 and Field Aircraft Services, part of the prestigious Hunting Group of Companies, decided the only way to fill the void left by the airline was to service and support the growing Business Aviation sector.
In 1962, Shell Aircraft Ltd, under the directorship of Group Captain Douglas Bader, based their fleet with Fields and the era of the Executive Jet Centre arrived. As time went on Fields decided it had to consolidate its split sites at Heathrow and so a new hangar, workshop and administration complex were commissioned and constructed in May 1983. In 1985 the government announced Stansted was to become London's third airport and it wasn't long before Fields were in negotiation with TAL-AIR to purchase the necessary elements of their business to create an FBO at Stansted. In August 1987, Field Aviation (Engineering) Stansted Limited and Field Aviation (Stansted) Limited were formed.
During 1992 a new maintenance hangar and offices at Stansted were developed giving Fields a significant development at Stansted. The Business Aviation Terminal (Old Terminal Building) was extensively modified at this time too, but at this stage the contract to supply fuel and to provide passenger handling was held by ESSO and the Old Terminal Building was known as the AVITAT.
As a marketing strategy to gain greater recognition within business aviation and to coincide with the opening of the newly built Stansted facilities in late 1992, Hunting dissolved all Fields’ companies during early 1993 and renamed them Hunting Business Aviation.
In March 1994, following the withdrawal of ESSO from the Business Aviation Terminal at Stansted, Hunting Business Aviation took over the management of the facility on behalf of ESSO and the Business Aviation Terminal and AVITAT became part of the FBO's facilities.
Also in 1994 a new FBO was formed at Luton to compete directly with our main UK competitor, which at that time was known as Magec Aviation.
Meanwhile, disillusioned by the service he was being provided by the organisation looking after his own aircraft fleet, Mohamed Al Fayed decided he would purchase his own FBO to provide facilities and services second to none, in line with his flagship business – Harrods Limited, Knightsbridge.
And so in November 1995, Harrods Aviation Limited (or Metro Business Aviation as it was then known) was formed when Harrods Holdings plc acquired Hunting Business Aviation from the Hunting Group. The acquisition by Harrods Holdings has brought the name of quality to a respected business and from the outset promised that Metro Business Aviation would strive to become the best.
However, success always has a price and turbulent times were ahead for the company. The arrival of a new Chief Executive in August 1997 brought a substantial programme of change for Metro as the company was losing millions of pounds per annum. The regime included changes in senior management, the introduction of a mission statement and the rebranding of the business during late 1998
However, all this could not stop the erosion of business at Heathrow, due to restriction on slots and no let-up in the massive rent bill to compensate for this. And so, following a long legal battle costing £1 million, the agonising decision was taken in late 1999 to close the maintenance facility at Heathrow. Shortly afterwards the famous hangar was demolished by the airport authority.
A VIP handling capability was kept at Heathrow for a while, but the company has since refocused its main attention on its two other FBOs at London-Luton and London-Stansted where its head office function and sister company Air Harrods are based.
The company was proud to own and operate London’s only licensed heliport at Battersea between 1998 and 2003. Ownership of the heliport fitted well within the expertise of both aviation companies and offered customers an added dimension to our services.
Then on 1 May 2003 the ultimate honour was bestowed upon the company. In recognition of all the hard work the directors and staff had put into maintaining the highest possible standards and providing a level of customer service in common with its parent company, Metro Business Aviation was renamed Harrods Aviation.
In recent times the company has gone from strength to strength with both FBOs and maintenance facilities at London-Luton and London-Stansted airports and an engine shop at Farnborough. London-Luton is where the majority of growth is experienced year on year and facilities were constantly developed during the early 2000’s to meet the customer demand. In January 2005 a second purpose built hangar and extensive ramp area were opened, followed by the reciting of the FBO to it’s current, larger accommodation and ramp space in January 2008.
Kate Bayes, formerly Customer Services Director for Harrods Aviation, was appointed as Managing Director in April 2008 and remains at the helm as the company enjoys new ownership following the sale of Harrods Aviation to Qatar Holding as part of the larger Harrods Group sale completed in May 2010.
First Avenue
London Stansted Airport
Stansted | Essex
CM24 1QQ
UK
T+44 (0) 1279 665 300 (24hr)
F +44 (0) 1279 665 304
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