Post published:01/02/2024
Post category:Front Page Items / Latest Member News
Reading time:5 mins read

Southampton Airport has today (Wednesday 31 January) confirmed the appointment of Gavin Williams as Operations Director.

Gavin will bring with him extensive industry experience having spent five years at Manchester Airports Group, where he held operational roles at East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester airports.

Gavin will take up the post on Monday 26 February replacing Mark Beveridge, who has acted as Interim Operations Director since September 2023. Mark will return to his role as Operations Director at Aberdeen International Airport.

Ronald Leitch, Chief Operating Officer at AGS Airports, which also owns Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gavin to our leadership team. His extensive knowledge and expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our operational capabilities, ensuring that Southampton Airport remains a preferred choice for passengers and airlines alike.

“Following the completion of the runway extension last year and a number of subsequent route announcements at Southampton, Gavin joins the airport at an exciting time and I look forward to working with him.”

As Operations Director, Gavin Williams will lead all day-to-day activities at Southampton Airport. His extensive background in aviation operations management will be instrumental in ensuring the airport’s continued growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Gavin said, “I am really looking forward to joining the AGS Airports team and building on Southampton Airport’s important role as a gateway for growth for the Central South region.

“The opportunity to lead the fantastic team at Southampton Airport and to help build on the current positive momentum following the completion of the runway extension is one I am relishing.

“It is a hugely exciting time and 2024 is shaping up to be a big year at the airport as we look to attract even more new routes and deliver further improvements to the customer experience.”

A number of new routes and service improvements have been announced following the completion of the 164-metre runway extension in August last year.

More…

Airline partner easyJet launched services to Glasgow and Belfast International airports in October and November respectively. The airline has also announced plans to operate three sun routes to Faro, Alicante and Palma this summer. Dutch carrier KLM also recently announced it would add a third daily service to Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s leading hubs.

Ends.

For further information, please contact:

Peter Carroll, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, on 079505 31199 or peter.carroll@agsairports.co.uk

Southampton Airport is owned by AGS Airports Limited which is jointly held by Ferrovial (via Faero UK Limited) and AGS Ventures Airports Limited, an entity managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Europe) Limited.

With nine airlines serving 17 domestic and international destinations, Southampton Airport is the one of the Central South region’s principal international gateways.

As well as supporting a number of lifeline services to the Channel Islands, the airport is also a key component of the region’s transport infrastructure, supports over 1,000 jobs and delivers £160 million in GVA annually.

AGS Airports Limited is jointly held by Ferrovial (via Faero UK Limited) and AGS Ventures Airports Limited, an entity controlled by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 4 LP.

AGS Airports supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes in excess of £2 billion in GVA to the UK economy every year. In 2021, AGS launched its sustainability strategy setting out how it will balance the undoubted economic and social benefits of aviation with its climate change responsibilities. AGS has:

Reduced its direct carbon emissions by 52% since 2018.
Achieved carbon neutrality in 2020.
Has committed to achieving net zero for direct emissions by the mid-2030s.

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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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