31/3/2008

Business

Aviation becoming core business in area.

Aviation is becoming a magnet for business in the Mail area.

The rise of Farnborough Airport and the recent decision to double weekend and bank holiday flights there has allowed the industry to take off, leaving more traditional sectors like research and development in its wake.

The Farnborough Airshow, which attracts transactions running to hundreds of millions of pounds, is another factor expected to further raise the profile of the area.

The next show, the 46th, being held from July 14 to 20, will attract international companies eager to have their slice of the business market.

Environmental campaigners have warned that higher carbon dioxide emissions from aeroplanes could negate the economic benefit.

However, Brandon O’Reilly, chief executive of TAG — the company that owns and operates the airport — believes the growing aviation industry will reap rewards for a range of businesses.

“We are capped at the moment for 28,000 movements a year but the report from the government-appointed plann-ing inspector and the secretaries of state for local government (Hazel Blears) and transport (Ruth Kelly) said the airport would provide substantial benefit to local businesses,” he said.

“I think there will be job creation and more captains of industry, with business coming to the area from all across the south-east.

“A huge range of companies, such as florists or taxi firms, based nearby should be able to benefit from the growth of Farnborough Airport.”

Rewards

Katherine West, who runs Wild Orchids, a Farnborough florist based in Victoria Road, said she was already beginning to reap the rewards of the airport’s customers.

“I already provide flowers to some businesses in the area and I’m hoping to do so for the new Aviator Hotel at the airport,” she said.

“I’ve friends who have done up The Swan in Farnborough Road to tap into the airport market.

“It’s great that local businesses are able to benefit from the airport.”

Greenfingers florists, which has shops in Cove and North Camp, supplies flowers to TAG executive jets.

Company owner Mark Woods feels his business can only expand as more aeroplanes use the airport.

“We supply flower arrangements for many of the jets, and much of what they want is very specific,” he said.

“They want very particular dimensions of flowers that look packed but aren’t more than five inches high.

“It’s a good contract for us and hopefully one that will grow in the future.”

Benefits

Claire Burridge, company secretary of A1 Rushmoor Radio Taxis, said the rise in aviation business would benefit a diverse range of businesses, including hers.

“I welcome anything that will bring us more customers and business,” she added.

“If more chief executives and managing directors are coming to the area then that will probably mean more money into the shop.”

Some taxi firms have bought luxury vehicles specially to cater for the executive market at the airport, as business becomes more frequent.

An environmental group has warned that chasing the dollar could damage the environmental quality of life for residents.

Warning

But Rick Kimber, of Blackwater Valley Friends of the Earth, said aviation business would not necessarily benefit the area economically.

“I think most of the weekend flights at the airport are people leaving to go to watch Real Madrid play football or go to the south of France, rather then people coming here,” he added.

“I’m not sure how many business people are actually landing here to stay rather than leaving from here to go elsewhere.”

He said Rushmoor and the surrounding area was already under environmental strain from traffic congestion.

“The air quality here is already not good because of the pollution that the M3 generates,” Mr Kimber added.

“The rise in aviation business is of great concern to the Friends of the Earth,” he said. “Aviation already accounts for 3% of annual carbon emissions and the last thing the Friends of the Earth want is anything that could make that figure rise.”

First printed in: The News and Mail Series