The British Business and
General Aviation Association (BBGA) has honoured Andrew Walters, owner and
chairman of London Biggin Hill Airport as this year’s recipient of its
prestigious annual Michael Wheatley Award for Outstanding Services to the
general aviation industry.
The award was presented at
the Association’s 43rd annual conference and AGM at Luton Hoo by Sir Gerald
Howarth MP for Aldershot, applauded by some 120 industry peers.
BBGA Chairman
Marwan Khalek
praised the work Andrew does for the industry and for his effective political
lobbying of the sector. “At a time when airport access is one of our biggest
issues, it is good to have a friend who owns and looks after such valuable
infrastructure and who has such an active interest in our association.”
Congratulating him,
Will Curtis,
Managing Director of Biggin Hill Airport said: “Andrew is a tireless worker and
terrific ambassador to general and business aviation, always looking for new
ways to innovate and attract new people to this exciting business. He is as
passionate about his staff and his businesses are run as ‘family’ concerns in
every sense.”
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Andrew Walters, Chairman and
owner of London Biggin Hill Airport accepts BBGA’s Industry Award 2017 from Sir
Gerald Howarth MP. |
After an early career flying
helicopters in the Army Air Corps, Andrew set up his first commercial business,
International Messengers Ltd, in 1975, growing it to 36 global offices with
particular emphasis in Africa. He sold the business to UPS in 1988 but continued
to consult for them, from the UK and Australia.
Andrew set up Regional
Airports Ltd in 1990 as a vehicle to acquire both London Southend and Biggin
Hill Airports, recognising the huge potential they held in commercial and
business aviation, respectively. He turned around Southend Airport having
secured its future by way of planning and policy support and sold it to the
Stobart Group in 2008.
Today his focus is on Biggin
Hill, which is the UK’s third largest business airport. Having recently
celebrated its 100th birthday the airport has a bright future, having just
secured approval for longer operating hours from 1st May - an unprecedented
position for a metropolitan area airport. London Biggin Hill Airport also enjoys
a commercial reciprocal partnership with Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
Michael Wheatley, after
whom the Award is named, was a cornerstone of the UK’s general
aviation/helicopter industry for more than 25 years. He held a leading role in
the support advisory services to the UK police and ambulance authorities, and
also to leading financial institutions. He died in 2006. |