Where performance meets preparedness — General Aviation Service’s approach to high season success

Summer high season in Spain is always a defining period for general aviation sector, and this year is no exception. With the first two months already behind us, preliminary results are offering a clear picture of operational dynamics, emerging challenges, and the evolving expectations of both operators and passengers. To explore these trends in depth, today I speak with Evgeny Shadov, Vice President of Business Development at General Aviation Service, a company known for its commitment to operational excellence and continuous innovation.

In this conversation, Evgeny shares his insights on how the season is unfolding so far, what operators should prioritize to ensure smooth and disruption‑free flight operations, and why close collaboration with local industry stakeholders remains a critical success factor. He also highlights the company’s ongoing investment in state‑of‑the‑art training—a cornerstone of GAS’s strategy to equip its teams with the skills and readiness required in an increasingly demanding operational environment.

T.O.: The first two months of the summer high season have now passed. Can you share the preliminary results with us? What are the trends for summer 2026? Is the number of visitors still on the rise?

E.S.: Summer 2026 has been exceptional for General Aviation Service. In fact, July became the best operational month in our company's 45-year history, breaking every previous record.

Compared to July 2025, some of our strongest growth came from Alicante (+68.8%), Ibiza (+40.8%), Málaga (+26.8%) and Palma (+15.3%). The rest of our network also recorded significant growth, confirming strong demand across Spain.

What is even more encouraging is that, based on the flights already scheduled for August, we currently expect August to surpass July and become another record-breaking month.

Spain continues to attract strong Business Aviation demand. Mallorca, Ibiza and Málaga remain extremely busy, while Madrid and Barcelona continue to benefit from a healthy mix of business travel, premium tourism and international events.

One clear trend we see is that operators are planning much earlier than before. Early coordination has become essential to secure parking, slots and the best operational options during peak periods.

T.O.: A lot has happened—the Pope’s visit, Formula 1, and much more. Of course, there have been restrictions and changes at the airports. What advice do you have for operators and brokers to ensure that flights go smoothly?

E.S.: My biggest recommendation is very simple: involve your local handling partner as early as possible. Large events such as Formula 1, state visits or international summits create additional pressure on airport capacity, parking and slots. The earlier we know about an operation, the more options we usually have available.

At General Aviation Service, our 24/7 Operations Control Centre continuously monitors all our operations across Spain. Our OCC works together with every station, following slot availability, parking, operational restrictions and last-minute changes, ensuring our customers always have support whenever they need it. Business Aviation is dynamic, and plans often change. Having a team available around the clock makes a significant difference.

T.O.: People often talk about the importance of working with local industry stakeholders. Often, building relationships can open up opportunities to find solutions that others might not be able to find. Could you share some specific examples with us?

E.S.: Absolutely. Business Aviation has always been a relationship-driven industry. Relationships are not only about airports and authorities. They also include transportation providers, luxury catering companies, hotels, fuel suppliers and many other local partners.

For example, premium catering has become increasingly important over the last few years, and today many of our clients expect tailor-made solutions rather than standard products. Having trusted local partners allows us to react quickly and consistently across our network.

The same applies to VIP transportation. Having several reliable providers at each location gives us flexibility, especially during peak periods or when last-minute changes occur.

Internally, our management team and our 24/7 Operations Control Centre stay constantly connected with all our stations across Spain. Whether it's early in the morning or late at night, we're always working together to find solutions for our customers.

At the end of the day, it's not only about solving problems—it's about having the right people ready before problems even appear.

T.O.: We've noticed that despite the exceptionally heavy workload during peak season, GAS still finds the time to continue investing in and providing "state-of-the-art" training for its staff. What motivates you, and why is this essential?

E.S.: Our people are our greatest strength. Even during our busiest months, training never stops. We have developed an internal training platform where employees complete mandatory and recurrent courses covering safety, security, operations and customer service.

The system automatically tracks completion, sends reminders when training is due and provides reporting to our managers responsible for Safety, Operations and Quality. This allows us to monitor compliance across the entire company while maintaining the highest operational standards.

Business Aviation continues to evolve, and so do our customers' expectations. Continuous training ensures that every member of our team is prepared to deliver the same high level of service, regardless of location or season.

Ultimately, investing in training is investing in safer operations, greater consistency and a better experience for every customer.

One of our core values is continuous improvement. Even after more than 45 years in Business Aviation, we believe there is always something new to learn, improve and share with our teams. That's the mindset we want to maintain across General Aviation Service.