MALDIVES: Universal Aviation Maldives Starts Business In November

Worldwide ground support division of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., Universal Aviation, has announced its newest location, Universal Aviation Maldives, will begin operations by the end of November this year.

Universal Aviation Maldives is headquartered at Velana International Airport (VIA) and is a joint venture location with multi-award winning travel company, Inner Maldives Holidays, which have been providing tourism and travel services to the booming tourism industry in the Maldives since 1998.

Upon opening, Universal Aviation Maldives will become Universal Aviation's eighth location in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chairman of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Greg Evans stated Maldives is a popular but potentially challenging destination for clients and it was important to identify a partner Maldives that will not only reduce customers' risk and stress on the ground but provide them with an unforgettable experience through pro-active trip management, versus relying solely on third-parties.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Universal Aviation Maldives Abdulla Ghiyas expressed tourism is a major reason for much of the corporate jet aviation traffic to the Maldives, adding the team members are trained to Universal Aviation's ground support standards.

Team members are also experts in local tourism and can help arrange discounts for crews on local hotels, air transport and tours.

The main operation centre of Universal Aviation Maldives will also provide supervisory services at all airports throughout the Maldives including Gan International Airport, Maamigili Airport and Hanimaadhoo International Airport.

Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Houston, Texas that provides products and services for the general aviation industry. Its customers include owners and operators of business jets for corporate and personal air travel.

The company offers products and services including international flight planning and scheduling, weather briefings, fueling programs, aircraft ground handling, and aviation security. It is the oldest company in the corporate flight planning industry.

Universal Weather was founded in 1959 by Tom Evans. Greg Evans, his son, is Universal Weather's chairman and owner. Ralph Vasami serves as the company's chief executive officer. The company operated in more than 50 locations in 20 countries.

Universal Weather was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1959 by Tom Evans, a former United States Air Force officer and meteorologist. Universal Weather was originally based out of Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Texas and was the first company to provide customized weather forecasting for business aviation.

The company moved to Houston, Texas a year later. For its first ten years Universal Weather was only involved in weather forecasting. New services were added gradually as the business aviation industry grew.

Greg Evans, son of founder Tom Evans, became company president and chief executive officer in 2001. He had worked at the company for the previous 22 years and was responsible for the company's prior expansion into Europe and Asia.

Ralph Vasami became president of the company in 2004. Vasami had worked at Universal Weather since he had interned at the company's New York City weather office and had most recently served as its chief operating officer. He would later become chief executive officer of the company.

In 2007, Universal Weather donated flight planning and weather to Barrington Irving's then-world record solo flight around the world.

Universal Weather's services assisted in preparing Irving before his trip as the youngest person to fly solo around the world, and also monitored his travels during the expedition, tracking his location and storms, and coordinating with foreign airports for permission to land.

Universal Weather acquired Air Chef Holdings, an American in-flight catering and concierge firm, in 2011. The company launched its mobile application, Universal Mobile, for free in 2012, later updating it to be current with industry trends and making it accessible for iPads.

In 2014, Universal Weather assisted Irving again providing complete flight logistics to Irving's Flying Classroom endeavor, a nine-week program of aviation expedition and education spanning over three continents.

The program also involves scheduled informational stops to Universal Weather's ground support locations.

Universal Weather and Aviation Inc. owns and operates three brands that specialize in various services related to the aviation transport industry:

UVair

UVair is the fueling division of Universal Weather and Aviation. The brand was founded in 1981 and the fuel program was initially launched in five locations including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Le Bourget, and Madrid.

The fuel program offers Jet-A contract fuel options. Later, the division established the UVair Fueling Card that is accepted at over 5,000 locations around the world.

Universal Aviation

Universal Aviation is the ground support division of Universal Weather. Universal Weather opened its first ground handling offices in the mid-1970s in Mexico and Spain.

In the late 1990s, Universal Weather began opening a network of ground handling offices. By 2016, the brand operates over 50 locations in 20 countries.

Air Culinaire Worldwide

Air Culinaire Worldwide is the in-flight catering provider owned by Universal Weather. The culinary brand operates 21 catering kitchens around the world.

Universal Weather and Aviation Inc. Memberships and Affiliations

- National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA)

- European Business Aviation Association (EBAA)

- Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA)

- Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA)


Tourism Observer

The opening of international flights to Gan airport, adjacent to Addu township in the south of the Maldives, has opened a new era for the region – providing an alternative transportation offering that can save travellers valuable vacation time.

On 1 December SriLankan Airlines started flying from Colombo to the upgraded Gan airport, formerly a UK Royal Air Force refilling base until 1976 when it became a domestic airport.

SriLankan Airlines now departs Colombo for Gan four times a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays — at 06.55 for the 110-minute journey, using a 150-seat Airbus 320.

"Since we consider Maldives our extended home market, we will explore every avenue to make sure that Gan receives the attention and visibility that it deserves," said Saminda Perera, General Manager – Marketing, SriLankan Airlines.

Resorts in the south of the country have responded favourably.

"Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort has added an on-demand 30-minute Trans Maldivian Airlines sea plane service between Gan and our luxurious hideaway to meet the new service and provide additional convenience to our guests," said John Allanson, General Manager of Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort.

"Whether vacationers travel here to enjoy our spacious over-water villas, varied water sport activities or Navasana Spa – we know that the journey here is part of the holiday experience, so we warmly welcome the new option," he said.

Allanson said Gan is "virtually on the doorstep" of the Outrigger and all the resorts in the southern atolls of Seenu, Gnaviyani, Gaafu Dhaalu and Gaafu Alifu.

Having international services landing directly in Gan 545 kms south of Male saves an estimated three hours on travel time to resorts in the south as it eliminates the need to connect with a scheduled commercial flight from Male to domestic airports in the south.

Hoteliers in the southern atolls now hope that airlines, especially those with big feeder hubs in the Middle East, will also introduce flights directly to Gan.

Gan international airport is currently served by domestic carriers Maldivian and Flyme, as well as SriLankan. Private jets are also able to land and park at Gan due to its new international status.

On SriLankan, round-trip tickets from Colombo to Gan start from around USD330. Outrigger is offering a limited-time New Year's Deal up to 30-percent off when booking direct on .

"For any tourist who wishes to spend a holiday in an ambience which is not overcrowded and where not many things come between you and the turquoise Indian ocean, the Gan area is an ideal destination….it is for tourists who explore deeper," said Saminda.