Fayed sells London Heliport
HARRODS owner Mohammed Fayed has sold the London Heliport at Battersea to Weston (Aviation) Limited, part of the Weston Group. The heliport, licensed by the CAA, is the only one in London. Facilities include a dedicated VIP lounge and aircraft parking.
Weston Aviation will continue to run the Heliport with the majority of staff remaining. The company said Harrods Aviation will remain the largest service provider for business aviation in the UK, with bases at Stansted, Luton, Heathrow and Farnborough.
Fayed bought the heliport in autumn 2000 from engineering group GKN for less than £1m. In March 2002, he finally lost a series of planning battles with Kensington & Chelsea council which he had hoped would allow him to use the roof of Harrods as a helicopter landing pad.
In July 2002, Fayed also failed in his High Court bid to stop plans for a 15-storey development next door to the Heliport at Falcon Wharf.
A spokesman for Harrods Aviation said: 'The maintenance of executive jets and VIP passenger handling is the mainstay of Harrods Aviation's business and the disposal of this non-core asset will not affect that in any way.
'Air Harrods, Harrods' helicopter charter business, will continue to operate flights to and from Battersea Heliport as a customer of Weston Aviation.'