Italian FBO group SEA Prime is in talks with several business aircraft manufacturers to establish new factory-owned line maintenance services at Milan Linate Airport. The company is offering space in 10 hangars at the site and believes that the first of several OEMs may move in during the first half of this year.
In March, the company, which is a joint venture between the Milan airport authority and Signature Flight Support, expects to complete construction of a new 38,751-sq-ft hangar that will be occupied by the flight department of an undisclosed Italian corporation. One of the existing 10 hangars is currently dedicated to maintenance and is occupied by three licensed independent companies providing line support for Dassault Falcons and Cessna Citations, as well as helicopters produced by Leonardo.
In September, SEA Prime is set to open its new FBO at Milan Malpensa Airport, which is about 30 miles northwest of the city center. At Linate, located six miles from the city center, the company has a partnership with German automaker BMW, which has a sales outlet in the facility and provides cars to transport business aircraft passengers. It also has opened a new bar and restaurant called Prime Gusto through an alliance with catering group Gate Gourmet Italy. Late last year, SEA Prime started working with concierge service group MonteNapoleone Association.
During 2016, there were approximately 21,000 business aircraft movements at Linate, down from 22,600 in 2015, but the average size of the aircraft increased last year. According to SEA Prime general manager Chiara Dorigotti, the airport is Europe’s fifth or sixth busiest business aviation hub (depending on how data is assessed) and by far the busiest in Italy.
Due to a lack of land, Linate has only a single business aviation terminal, which is occupied by several independent handling providers. The FBO has just more than 721,000 sq ft of apron available, and the 10 hangars have a combined area of almost 237,000 sq ft. There is also a fuel depot.