CARDIFF heliport's new owners have predicted a massive rise in its use.
The new team, being led by the man who established the business in the 1980s, believe the rise will be fuelled by the growth in helicopter business travel.
Helicopter pilot Captain Julian Verity, who established the operating company Veritair two decades ago, has been backed by businessmen Professor Julian Stone and Frank Holmes in the buyout from British International. Prof Stone has a wealth of experience in the helicopter and aviation industries while Mr Holmes is a partner at Gambit Corporate Finance.
The deal also includes the acquisition of three helicopters and use of an additional helicopter from Prof Stone. The heliport, two miles from Cardiff city centre, includes VIP lounges aimed at serving a growing helicopter and business community in South Wales. Captain Verity, who becomes managing director of Veritair Aviation, said: "I can see an explosion in activities here, we are going to have a lot more business travel."
Captain Verity said the heliport would be looking to attract corporately-owned aircraft to be stationed there, using it as a base from which to fly to destinations around the UK.
