COVENTRY
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ADP
ADP - About us - what track record have they got, what other airport's do they own or have an interest in? Can't work that out from their website.
If Coventry is their first (only?) major airport investment I hope they are good at their sums!
Are they employing any third party airport consultancies to advise on all the nitty gritty stuff, like the overwealmingly helpful (!) UK CAA, DfT, UKBA, HMRC, quite apart form all the local, district, county and national politics, planning issues etc. etc.
Good luck guys - could be the knights in shining armour you need!
If Coventry is their first (only?) major airport investment I hope they are good at their sums!
Are they employing any third party airport consultancies to advise on all the nitty gritty stuff, like the overwealmingly helpful (!) UK CAA, DfT, UKBA, HMRC, quite apart form all the local, district, county and national politics, planning issues etc. etc.
Good luck guys - could be the knights in shining armour you need!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coventry
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Airport Development Partners s.a. ( ADP - About us )are a Swiss registered company which is a subsidiary of an American commercial property and infra-structure company, Westcore Properties Inc. (Westcore Properties )based in San Diego.
Marc Brutten is founder and President of Westcore and chairman of ADP. He is also Chairman of a cosmetics company and part owner of an NBA basketball team, a hotel company, a regional bank and a multimedia video company. Additionally, he is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), National Association of Industrial and Office properties (NAIOP), Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICS). He is a current board member of The New Children’s Museum and a director of California Republic Bank.
The company blurb says Marc Brutten “has been particularly successful in the acquisition of portfolios and properties that require repositioning and aggressive management in order to function more successfully in their environments.”
ADPs Executives are Chief Executive, Thomas Frankl (a Luxembourger), Chief Investment Officer , Everett Frost (from USA) and General Manager, Zbig Labaj (from Poland). Not a Swiss in sight!
ADP has an Advisory Board which is most impressive. Past and current posts held by Advisory Board members include:-
* Director General of the Airports Council International
* Management and development positions at six major US airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport, La Guardia Airport and Newark International Airport.
* Official responsible for airport safety standards for the FAA
* President and CEO of Air Transport Association of America
* General Manager of Airports Group International
* Director of Göteborg-Landvetter airport
* Director General of Swedish CAA
* Council member of ICAO
* Director General of IATA
* Deputy Secretary General of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA)
* President and CEO of Swissport International
* CEO and Director General of SITA
ADPs way of working
“Based on the experience of its Advisory Board and management, and relying on its unique, extensive network of industry contacts, Airport Development Partners works with its own core team of experienced managers and consultants.
Our philosophy is not to replace an airport management team [different at CVT] but to support and supplement the existing airport management where necessary, e.g. in expanding the market base of the airport through developing their scheduled and charter passenger operations, air freight and business aviation opportunities.
By developing an airport´s growth potential and the breadth and quality of its services, the airport will make a substantive contribution to economic competitiveness, job creation and to the region´s image – and to the country´s international reputation.”
ADP give no details on their website about which airports they are involved in. From other sources it would appear that Coventry may be the first airport where they have had total control as opposed to working in partnership with others. Airports linked with ADP include:-
Sion, Switzerland
Gdansk (new terminal development) + another Polish airport
Vienna (development of Cargo facility)
Bratislava (development of Cargo facility)
Yemen (project not known!!!)
Marc Brutten is founder and President of Westcore and chairman of ADP. He is also Chairman of a cosmetics company and part owner of an NBA basketball team, a hotel company, a regional bank and a multimedia video company. Additionally, he is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), National Association of Industrial and Office properties (NAIOP), Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICS). He is a current board member of The New Children’s Museum and a director of California Republic Bank.
The company blurb says Marc Brutten “has been particularly successful in the acquisition of portfolios and properties that require repositioning and aggressive management in order to function more successfully in their environments.”
ADPs Executives are Chief Executive, Thomas Frankl (a Luxembourger), Chief Investment Officer , Everett Frost (from USA) and General Manager, Zbig Labaj (from Poland). Not a Swiss in sight!
ADP has an Advisory Board which is most impressive. Past and current posts held by Advisory Board members include:-
* Director General of the Airports Council International
* Management and development positions at six major US airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport, La Guardia Airport and Newark International Airport.
* Official responsible for airport safety standards for the FAA
* President and CEO of Air Transport Association of America
* General Manager of Airports Group International
* Director of Göteborg-Landvetter airport
* Director General of Swedish CAA
* Council member of ICAO
* Director General of IATA
* Deputy Secretary General of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA)
* President and CEO of Swissport International
* CEO and Director General of SITA
ADPs way of working
“Based on the experience of its Advisory Board and management, and relying on its unique, extensive network of industry contacts, Airport Development Partners works with its own core team of experienced managers and consultants.
Our philosophy is not to replace an airport management team [different at CVT] but to support and supplement the existing airport management where necessary, e.g. in expanding the market base of the airport through developing their scheduled and charter passenger operations, air freight and business aviation opportunities.
By developing an airport´s growth potential and the breadth and quality of its services, the airport will make a substantive contribution to economic competitiveness, job creation and to the region´s image – and to the country´s international reputation.”
ADP give no details on their website about which airports they are involved in. From other sources it would appear that Coventry may be the first airport where they have had total control as opposed to working in partnership with others. Airports linked with ADP include:-
Sion, Switzerland
Gdansk (new terminal development) + another Polish airport
Vienna (development of Cargo facility)
Bratislava (development of Cargo facility)
Yemen (project not known!!!)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kettering
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On the BBC website last night.
BBC News - Switzerland-based firm looks at buying Coventry Airport
Fingers crossed for something formal today but it looks promising
BBC News - Switzerland-based firm looks at buying Coventry Airport
Fingers crossed for something formal today but it looks promising
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coventry
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Thomas Frankl, CEO of Airport Development Partners has just been interviewed on local radio about their plans for Coventry Airport.
He said "unless we find some serious dead bodies in cupboards, we will do the deal" at the end of the due diligence process. He confirmed that it is the first airport they have totally controlled.
He said the previous owners had not matched staff with business and they would start with a core team and build from there.
As to what they would do to develop the airport, he said Maintenance facilities would be a high priority (He mentioned this more than once and suggested it might be more than one.)
He said they would use their contacts to develop business aviation and that they would build infrastructure to enable them to develop the freight business - he said their American parent had particular expertise in this.
On passenger flights he was very cautious but said eventually, as the economy improved there could be some "specialist" destinations (he mentioned Grenoble for skiing, but "no Ryanair".)
All in all, pretty upbeat although it sounds as if the initial employment might be limited.
He said "unless we find some serious dead bodies in cupboards, we will do the deal" at the end of the due diligence process. He confirmed that it is the first airport they have totally controlled.
He said the previous owners had not matched staff with business and they would start with a core team and build from there.
As to what they would do to develop the airport, he said Maintenance facilities would be a high priority (He mentioned this more than once and suggested it might be more than one.)
He said they would use their contacts to develop business aviation and that they would build infrastructure to enable them to develop the freight business - he said their American parent had particular expertise in this.
On passenger flights he was very cautious but said eventually, as the economy improved there could be some "specialist" destinations (he mentioned Grenoble for skiing, but "no Ryanair".)
All in all, pretty upbeat although it sounds as if the initial employment might be limited.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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I can see now why the Numpty from Brighton came on here to run down CVT...The new Airport Manager is John Haffenden, he was the Manager of Shoreham (Brighton) airport for about 15 years before leaving because of disagreements with the new owners
Seems like someone who will actually be able to run the airport properly..
Looks like they intend to fit into the system rather than compete outright...Great to hear they are anti Ryanair type operations.....
Seems like someone who will actually be able to run the airport properly..
Looks like they intend to fit into the system rather than compete outright...Great to hear they are anti Ryanair type operations.....
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Information from the airport yesterday (from someone who still works there) is that nothing has been signed and won't be until ADP's 30 days are up and that they will only be running at cat 2 when they eventually do open but looking to increase that as part of a 5 year plan ( which I hope is more successfull than Coventry City's 5 year plan to get back into the premier league!!)
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I think there is a chance (subject to DD) that they may succeed where others have failed if only the fact that they actually have some knowledge and experience of airports and aviation.
If we use football as a measure of success then CVT could be in for trouble.
If we use football as a measure of success then CVT could be in for trouble.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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New buyer's experience
Call100 - what experience do they have?! They're a new investment group who want's to get into airports, but they seemingly haven't played with a whole one before, lock stock and barrel.
I suspect they have dreams of modern MROs and tsunamis of business jets coming in. The jets can easily and cheaply go into BHX these days whilst there aren't great hoards of maintenance companies waiting to relocate from the Farnboroughs, Biggins, Lashams or Southends of this world - yet. Most operators prefer maintenance at their home base where possible and Coventry only ever had a handful of home based business jets.
On the freight side, they may well have an angle - pinch what you can from East Midlands?
I suspect they have dreams of modern MROs and tsunamis of business jets coming in. The jets can easily and cheaply go into BHX these days whilst there aren't great hoards of maintenance companies waiting to relocate from the Farnboroughs, Biggins, Lashams or Southends of this world - yet. Most operators prefer maintenance at their home base where possible and Coventry only ever had a handful of home based business jets.
On the freight side, they may well have an angle - pinch what you can from East Midlands?
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The people involved with the group have a vast pool of experience and contacts to call on.
What has been lacking in the past is anyone with some basic nous about aviation. This is the first airport they have had overall control in but they have masses of experience in doing what they say they want to do.
The balls up and money wasted on attempting to break the planning system was just a small part of the fiasco in the past.
Whatever they do they can't balls it up any more than it is already. With the people they have I would say CVT has a better chance now than they ever had. Usually at a first news interview you get the fantasies. These people seemed to be very focused and not at all unrealistic. A refreshing change to say the least.
I suspect that the property side will add business links with the aviation side that will help bring in traffic.
I note you have a vested interest..
What has been lacking in the past is anyone with some basic nous about aviation. This is the first airport they have had overall control in but they have masses of experience in doing what they say they want to do.
The balls up and money wasted on attempting to break the planning system was just a small part of the fiasco in the past.
Whatever they do they can't balls it up any more than it is already. With the people they have I would say CVT has a better chance now than they ever had. Usually at a first news interview you get the fantasies. These people seemed to be very focused and not at all unrealistic. A refreshing change to say the least.
I suspect that the property side will add business links with the aviation side that will help bring in traffic.
I note you have a vested interest..
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Romaro
I refer the honorable gentleman to post 1665 above. It is a little difficult to see what experience is missing. Moreover it is highly likely that such services as ATC will be bought in from high quality providers.
what experience do they have?! They're a new investment group who want's to get into airports, but they seemingly haven't played with a whole one before, lock stock and barrel.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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"such services as atc will be bought by high quality providers" 
Whats that supposed to mean ?
All providers of ATC in the UK have to meet the same SRG requirements.
I think you will find they will struggle to get many ATCO'S with much experience.
Experience costs.
Whats that supposed to mean ? All providers of ATC in the UK have to meet the same SRG requirements.
I think you will find they will struggle to get many ATCO'S with much experience.
Experience costs.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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It had been suggested that ADP might not have the necessary experience to run an airport. I was pointing out that any deficiency in experience can (and probably will) be bought in from an external supplier who are capable of providing a high quality service.
Discussion of whether all air traffic services are of the same quality is probably for another place......
Discussion of whether all air traffic services are of the same quality is probably for another place......
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The new company(if it happens) will want to cut costs to make it viable. The trouble is
they will have to pay what other airports are paying for their ATCO's(if not more ) to get experienced people.
they will have to pay what other airports are paying for their ATCO's(if not more ) to get experienced people.
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Rogervisual
and you are an expert on ATC..................
and I take it that the service you received from cov was not professional??
I'm sure that the controllers who worked there would have something to say about that!
and you are an expert on ATC..................
and I take it that the service you received from cov was not professional??
I'm sure that the controllers who worked there would have something to say about that!
niknak
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John Haffenden is a decent bloke and a gentleman, I don't know the facts, but I suspect that it was his ethical approach to looking after his staff for so long at Shoreham and refusing to budge from those when the new mob moved in at Shoreham that led to his downfall.
Given what the new potential owners have allegedly said, if there's anyone that will give Coventry a decent chance of slowly returning to at least half of what it could be, it's him.
Running ATC will be a costly and major headache for him though, I strongly suspect that Marshalls (or perhaps SERCo) will be invited back for at least the first couple of years.
Marshalls had done a good job in putting the ATC unit back together after the upheavals of 2008/09, but there was still a long way to go.
The new owners would have all that to do all over again and a lot more to prove themselves competent in every respect to SRG.
Given what the new potential owners have allegedly said, if there's anyone that will give Coventry a decent chance of slowly returning to at least half of what it could be, it's him.
Running ATC will be a costly and major headache for him though, I strongly suspect that Marshalls (or perhaps SERCo) will be invited back for at least the first couple of years.
Marshalls had done a good job in putting the ATC unit back together after the upheavals of 2008/09, but there was still a long way to go.
The new owners would have all that to do all over again and a lot more to prove themselves competent in every respect to SRG.
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F-brickish- You got the wrong end of stick mate.
I'm actually defending the controllers who worked at coventry as Leofric's post, to me implied that the previous team were not high quality.
Also just pointing out that it will cost the new operators to get experienced ATCO's.
I'm actually defending the controllers who worked at coventry as Leofric's post, to me implied that the previous team were not high quality.
Also just pointing out that it will cost the new operators to get experienced ATCO's.
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To some extent the fact that the company is new(ish) is irrelevant. As I said before the sum total of experience in airports that the company can call on is quite impressive.
Haffenden will have no trouble in sorting out the ATC question, you just have to check out his qualifications. His consultancy does ATC stuff...
Aerozeal Consultants I Experienced professional providers of airport consultancy
Check him out in the 'About us' section.
The other members of ADP management are very experienced also.
Of course only time will tell, but I would hazard some optimism for the first time in years as far as CVT is concerned.
Haffenden will have no trouble in sorting out the ATC question, you just have to check out his qualifications. His consultancy does ATC stuff...
Aerozeal Consultants I Experienced professional providers of airport consultancy
Check him out in the 'About us' section.
The other members of ADP management are very experienced also.
Of course only time will tell, but I would hazard some optimism for the first time in years as far as CVT is concerned.
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How long a lease?
What sort of lease of the airfield are ADP likely to secure?
The term of that surely will dictate the sort of volumes of cash they can justify throwing in to rebuild the infrastructure, new sheds etc. Is there any liklihood at all that a fresh face on the block could get another commercial terminal built within say three or so years without the city council and the county council mucking around all over again?
The City Council need to bend over backwards to remove any planning hurdles to prevent any development of any kind on the odd bits of spare land - non aviation related if need be - and the county council needs to stop mucking it all up. Trouble is, they are 100% pro-BHX and anything detrimental to BHX profitability will be challenged.
They key is how many years they can bare with a loss making property, waiting to turn the first 'proper' profit after interest, tax and depreciation - the next five years, seven years, ten years?
To get back to any 'commercial' capability its going to be about a million quid/annum for ATC, the same for fire cover and half again for security, then they've got to do whatever the CAA insist upon in terms of upgrades, repairs, enhancements etc.
Need that property rental and freight-related revenue more than anything else (and all else will be peanuts in relative terms) otherwise the figures will never ever stack up.
The term of that surely will dictate the sort of volumes of cash they can justify throwing in to rebuild the infrastructure, new sheds etc. Is there any liklihood at all that a fresh face on the block could get another commercial terminal built within say three or so years without the city council and the county council mucking around all over again?
The City Council need to bend over backwards to remove any planning hurdles to prevent any development of any kind on the odd bits of spare land - non aviation related if need be - and the county council needs to stop mucking it all up. Trouble is, they are 100% pro-BHX and anything detrimental to BHX profitability will be challenged.
They key is how many years they can bare with a loss making property, waiting to turn the first 'proper' profit after interest, tax and depreciation - the next five years, seven years, ten years?
To get back to any 'commercial' capability its going to be about a million quid/annum for ATC, the same for fire cover and half again for security, then they've got to do whatever the CAA insist upon in terms of upgrades, repairs, enhancements etc.
Need that property rental and freight-related revenue more than anything else (and all else will be peanuts in relative terms) otherwise the figures will never ever stack up.