Signature Flight acquires Arrindell Aviation Services

December 01, 2011 2:41 PM

ST. MAARTEN-Signature Flight Support strengthened its foothold in the Caribbean with the announcement that it has acquired a majority stake in Arrindell Aviation Services N.V. (AAS).

Laurien Dumas of the law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne led the team that advised Signature Flight Support in this acquisition.

AAS has been in operation at Princess Juliana International Airport for 25 years providing flight support services for both business and general aviation customers and commercial airlines. The enterprise will be formally known as Arrindell Aviation by Signature. "We are pleased to join Signature's growing global network. I am proud that our 25 years of hard work and dedication to providing our customers with very personalised service has brought us to a level where we can join forces with the industry leader, Signature Flight Support," Frank Arrindell, President and Owner of AAS said at a brief meet and greet session with the company's 80 employees on Saturday morning at PJIA.

Local AAS staff and management will not change, neither will the salary and benefits and Roy Mingo will continue as the General Manager. Staff will also have to go through what is called the "ServiceWith a Leading Edge" training. Frank Arrindell's expertise will be leveraged for Signature as the corporate ambassador for the Caribbean.

The portfolio of services offered by Signature on St. Maarten include ground handling, fuel coordination, ground transportation for passengers and crew, ramp parking, water and lavatory services, gourmet catering and weather and routing services. Liaison between passengers and yacht connections will also be provided, as well as 24/7 aircraft charter brokerage services.

Additionally, Arrindell Aviation by Signature will offer front of house services to commercial airlines such as passenger check-in, ticketing, security and gate agent services to several major air carriers.

Commenting on the acquisition, Michael Scheeringa, President of Signature Flight Support stated, "Arrindell Aviation Services is a well-known name in aviation and a premier flight support services provider in the Caribbean. Frank Arrindell and his team of more than 80 associates have built a premier aviation services business over the past 25 years by focusing on the customer. We are very enthusiastic about this acquisition and see it as a key location for us in the Caribbean and we welcome Frank the entire Arrindell staff to the Signature family."

Signature Flight Support Corporation, a BBA Aviation plc company, is the world's largest fixed-base operation (FBO) and distribution network for business aviation services. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Signature currently operates at more than 100 locations in the United States, Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.

(Source: The Daily Herald)

12 November 2011