Tim Orchard, who's run AAA at Wycombe for BA for many years tells me about changes announced today.
Copy of the official announcement:
Sale of Airways Aero Associations Ltd
It is with great enthusiasm that today I am able to announce the sale by British Airways Plc. of its wholly owned subsidiary Airways Aero Associations Ltd. (AAA).
AAA has operated Wycombe Air Park, one of the busiest general aviation fields in U.K., for over forty years. British Airways Flying Club, part of AAA, is one of seventeen businesses based at the airfield.
The share capital of AAA Ltd has been purchased by The Arora Family Trust, of which Surinder Arora and his family are the beneficiaries.
In its continued effort to consolidate on core business strategy, British Airways has been receptive to Arora’s offer to purchase the subsidiary.
Surinder Arora learned to fly at British Airways Flying Club and gained over 800 flying hours before embarking upon a change in direction. Surinder’s career now sees him leading a major property development group, with interests in several sporting venues and in the International Hotel market. He has remained a fan of both general and commercial aviation for many years and retains a particular soft spot for Wycombe Air Park and for BA Flying Club.
British Airways and the Arora Group have cemented a close business relationship over a number of years in several areas. Many BA staff and customers will be familiar with at least three of the Arora Hotels, at Manchester city centre, and at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The latest Hotel to join the Arora Group sits uniquely in Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
Arora will embrace the general aviation scene at Booker with a number of exciting expansion plans. The airfield’s current refurbishment programme will continue. The list of recently completed major projects (a new Control Tower, a new runway surface, new runway lighting and replacement hangars) will be used as a spring board for future development. Several exciting new ventures are being discussed, each of which will bring new life and more growth to the airfield. These will be revealed over the coming months as discussions progress.
Each of the Directors of AAA Ltd., with the exception of Tim Orchard (Managing Director) has resigned, as required by legal protocol. The new AAA Board will comprise Geoff Want as Non-Exec. Chairman, Guy Morris (Managing Director of Arora International Hotels) and Subash Arora (Company Secretary of Arora International Hotels).
All of AAA’s current staff, equipment, tenants and relationships at the airfield will continue in their present form. It’s “business as usual” but with a new lease of life, exciting new goals and new enthusiasm. We now have the ability to invest in a great future for BAFC, for Wycombe Air Park and for general aviation.
Tim Orchard