Maple Aviation

Maple Aviation is an aviation services company based in the Yeşilköy area of Bakırköy, Istanbul. It belongs to Maple Group, which grew out of the Air Kargo brand. According to the company, it has worked in aviation representation, general sales agency (GSA), FBO, tourism and cargo since 1990.

Most of its work supports airlines and other aircraft operators. That includes flight supervision, airline representation, ground operations oversight, overflight and landing permits, slot arrangements, fuel and handling credit facilities, crew hotel bookings and customs and immigration clearances. The company says it coordinates more than 2,500 scheduled, charter and cargo flights a year at Turkish airports and has served more than 15 airlines.

For private flyers, the company lists executive flights, air ambulance and VIP services, worldwide brokering of passenger and cargo aircraft, and short- and long-term aircraft leasing and sub-charter arrangements. An aviation trade publication describes Maple Aviation as a non-AOC holder, meaning it has no air operator certificate. Charter flights are therefore arranged with third-party operators, not flown on its own aircraft.

The company says it is active at about 16 Turkish airports. These include Istanbul Airport, Istanbul Atatürk, Sabiha Gökçen, Ankara Esenboğa, İzmir, Antalya, Dalaman, Milas-Bodrum and Nevşehir. It also lists slot coordination offices in Istanbul and Antalya. The airport handbook ACUKWIK lists it as an FBO/handler at Istanbul Atatürk (LTBA).

Flyers looking for an aircraft operator should note that Maple Aviation is mainly a handling, representation and brokering business. Before booking, they should ask which operator and aircraft will fly the trip.