MANASSAS — Chantilly Air will now function as a fixed-base operator at Manassas Regional Airport, offering fueling and other aircraft services to the public. This is the latest in a string of developments that are priming Manassas Regional into a highly convenient airport for clients flying into the Northern Virginia area.
Chantilly Air has been working on the Manassas Airfield for more than 28 years, but their services were not open to the public until now. Manassas Regional has two other FBOs — APP Jet Center and Dulles Aviation.
As a fixed-base operator (FBO), Chantilly Air will offer fueling services, aircraft maintenance, aircraft charter services, aircraft management, and aircraft sales to the general public. They are also partnering with the airport in an anticipated $10 million expansion, as reported last week.
“With the amount of growth happening here, and the recent Micron and Aurora Flight Sciences expansion announcements, we really see a lot of potential in Manassas,” said Caleb Stitely, marketing and client relations manager for Chantilly Air.
Chantilly Air’s new FBO status “allows us to expand our business offerings to the public and general aviation at Manassas,” said Stitely.
“We strongly value our relationship with the airport and city,” he added.
In addition to the projected economic growth in Manassas, I-66’s anticipated hot lanes could also be a boon for the airport, because Manassas Regional will gain quicker access to Washington, D.C., as a result. The airport markets itself as a convenient alternative to the more crowded options of Dulles International or Ronald Reagan Washington National.
“At Dulles, the wait time for commercial airliners to take off can be 20 to 40 minutes,” said Stitely. “At Manassas Regional, your average wait time is two to three minutes.” The corporations utilizing Manassas Regional value their time, Stitely said. “To make an extra drive to Manassas in order to get off the ground a lot quicker is worthwhile to them,” he noted.
“Chantilly Air sees this as a growth opportunity,” Stitely stated.
Manassas Regional accounts for 30 percent of all general aviation traffic in the entire state. It is the nation’s number one municipal airport and the busiest general aviation airport in the Commonwealth.
In addition to their new role as a FBO, Chantilly Air is part of a $10 million expansion to Manassas Regional. Two 30,000 square foot hangers and roughly 32,000 square feet of office space is planned to begin construction. “This will provide us with additional hanger space that will be available for transient tenants, such as clients flying in just for the night, or for long-term and short-term leases as well,” said Stitely.
