Post published:19/05/2025
Post category:Latest Member News
Reading time:3 mins read

12.3% regional growth and new Portugal presence position company for successful summer season

Geneva (May 16, 2025) Universal Aviation, the worldwide ground support division of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., announced today at EBACE 2025 the full integration of Safeport into its European ground handling network. With six cobranded locations now live across Portugal and Cape Verde, Universal Aviation is better positioned to support operators during the upcoming Mediterranean peak season and beyond.

The strategic partnership with Safeport, originally announced at NBAA-BACE 2024, extends the Universal Aviation® brand into key points along the Atlantic corridor, including Lisbon, Cascais, Oporto, Beja, Faro, and Sal Island in Cape Verde. These locations are now fully operational under the Universal Aviation network.

Earlier this month, Universal Aviation’s EMEA team gathered in London for a war room strategy session to prepare for the upcoming European Summer Peak Season.

“Our goal has always been to make operating into Portugal and Cape Verde seamless for our clients,” said Greg Evans, Chairman of Universal. “With Safeport now fully integrated, our customers benefit from consistent standards, deeper local expertise, and direct connectivity into one of Europe’s most important and growing regions.”

While traffic into Portugal has grown modestly, customer feedback on Safeport’s service quality has been overwhelmingly positive, with a healthy pipeline of interest building through Universal’s global sales channels.

The full integration comes as Universal Aviation reports strong performance across the EMEA region:

Overall regional traffic grew by 12.3% year-over-year
Growth outpaced organic market expansion by 9.1%
Key locations such as Dublin, Northolt, and Milan posted double-digit growth

“The Safeport partnership is one part of a broader strategy to strengthen our network in line with where demand is growing,” said John Hewett, Regional Vice President, EMEA, Universal Aviation.

“With summer already ramping up, we’re ready—with expanded infrastructure, trusted partners, and data-driven insights—to deliver on every mission.”

The integration of Safeport into the Universal Aviation network adds new flexibility and capacity for customers operating in and out of Southern Europe or making strategic Atlantic crossings via Cape Verde. Combined with strong regional performance, Universal Aviation enters the 2025 peak season with more reach and resilience than ever before.

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Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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