![]()
Signature Aviation has bought Castle andamp; Cooke Aviation at Van Nuys (VNY), its third FBO at the field and the latest step in FBO consolidation. The release gives no price and no commitment on rates, so what the deal means for operators depends on details not yet disclosed. The deal closed Sept. 15, after all standard approvals, according to the Signature. Castle andamp; Cooke says its existing Van Nuys team will stay in place, and its second location at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu is not affected by the sale. "While this transition is certainly bittersweet, it represents a strategic step forward with meaningful long-term benefits," said Tony Marlow, Castle andamp; Cooke Aviation president of aviation operations and business development. "We are confident this will unlock new opportunities for investment, innovation and service enhancements that will elevate the customer experience and create exciting growth opportunities for the team." VNY functions as a primary gateway for Southern California business aviation. Changes in FBO ownership there affect a large number of aircraft movements, based operators and transient users. At a field as busy as Van Nuys, ramp space, hangars, maintenance facilities and airport access are scarce assets. While the companies state that the transition will be seamless, customers will eventually want clarity on how the facility's infrastructure and services will fit within Signature's operating structure. Current tenants and based operators now have a reason to revisit their assumptions about future costs and facility access while brokers will have to wait for more information before making a home base recommendation. Those answers will matter more to most operators than the acquisition announcement itself. What happens next The acquisition also reflects a broader trend that has become increasingly visible across business aviation: ownership of aviation infrastructure is consolidating among larger, better-capitalized operators. Earlier this month, Ocean Aviation acquired National Jets at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) as part of a strategy to build a multi-airport FBO network across South Florida, pairing the facility with its ongoing development at Miami Executive Airport (TMB). Signature's purchase of Castle andamp; Cooke gives it three FBO locations at Van Nuys, further expanding its presence at one of the world's busiest business aviation airports. Investors continue directing capital toward airport facilities, hangars and FBO networks because those assets are difficult to replicate and often more constrained than the aircraft they support. The first test comes at Van Nuys: whether fuel pricing, hangar terms and ramp access at VNY North change once the transition settles.