With clients becoming ever more demanding, FBOs that invest in improved facilities and services have established themselves as the most popular with EBAN readers. These include Palma de Mallorca-based Mallorcair, the Stockholm Bromma-based Grafair Jet Center, Dassault Falcon Service of Paris Le Bourget and Abelag Aviation in Brussels.

After having gone out to tender in Palma last year, Mallorcair has this year been nominated as one of the two official FBOs able to operate out of the airport of Son San Juan in Palma. The former winners, who are this year placed third, have operated out of Palma for many years as a small business promoting a family atmosphere to please customers and dedicated entirely to general aviation handling.

The company's Miguel Mudoy says: "Since our nomination as an official FBO, Mallorcair will invest and further improve our service to the private aviation sector. We will, over the next few months, be improving and amplifying our already ample location at the GAT."

He adds: "We had already offered a wide range of amenities for passengers and crews such as vip lounges, television and wi-fi, rest rooms with shower and toilet facilities. We will also be adding a fully equipped conference room for meetings and the facilities will all be tastefully redecorated to the highest standards."

Mallorcair's workforce comprises 18 multi-lingual staff trained to offer a one-to-one personalised service. Mudoy says: "Apart from all the usual ramp services, flight planning and maintenance, we can also coordinate all aspects of a visit to the island from limousine transport, hotel accommodation and hangarage to catering and luxury car rental service with a pick-up and drop off at the Mallorcair offices. We assist a wide range of aircraft from the smallest light aircraft and helicopters to ambulance flights and the larger aircraft such as Boeings and Airbuses."

He adds: "We do have a lot of frequent business fliers who have over the years become friends and are part of our happy family. We appreciate their confidence in us as a small FBO."

The consistently popular Grafair Jet Center of Bromma says that clients have become more demanding but that it regards the required administration as just one of the necessities to keep clients happy. "Leading fractional ownership companies are, more and more, starting to request reports after each flight with detailed information required ranging from de-icing and anti-icing to records of delays and regular movements. We have extended our services accordingly."