Universal Aviation Rebrands as Affinity Aviation With 75-Location Network

By Priya Raman

Universal Aviation will operate under the name Affinity Aviation across more than 75 locations in over 20 countries, the company announced Oct. 19 at NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas. The rebrand covers fixed-base operators (private jet terminals with fuel and handling services), general aviation terminals, ground handling teams and supervisory agents.

The Evans family-owned business has provided ground support for business aviation operators for more than 65 years. The name change will roll out in phases through 2027, covering digital platforms, signage, uniforms and operational communications. Customers will be notified in advance of any changes affecting procedures or billing.

"Affinity represents where we are taking this business next," Greg Evans, managing principal of Evans Family Office, said. "We are building on everything that has made this company successful while pushing ourselves to keep getting better."

What does the rebrand change for operators?

In practical terms, nothing immediate. Aircraft operators using Universal Aviation stations will see the same handling network, with the corporate identity converting gradually over roughly a year. The substantive change sits elsewhere: the rebrand lands amid sustained capital spending on ground infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Spain and Mexico that expands capacity where business aviation traffic is growing.

In Saudi Arabia, Affinity has begun operations at a new general aviation terminal and FBO in Dammam — the first of three flagship operations planned in the country. The buildout includes:

• An approximately 108,000-square-foot private aviation hangar and full-service ground handling operation in Jeddah
• A dedicated private aviation lounge and ground handling facility in Riyadh
• A centralized operational control center coordinating services across the country

European and Latin American expansion

In Europe, construction is underway on an approximately 53,800-square-foot hangar at Madrid-Barajas Airport, sized to accommodate aircraft up to Boeing Business Jet (a VIP-configured 737) dimensions. The facility adds covered parking capacity at one of Europe's busiest hubs for long-cabin business jets.

Mexico represents the largest single project by floor area. Affinity worked with local partners to develop a 362,000-square-foot FBO and hangar complex in Guadalajara, including a 51,700-square-foot general aviation hangar.

Further investments include facility upgrades in Milan and Paris, improvements to the Venezuela operation and expansion in the Dominican Republic. Beyond bricks and mortar, the company plans to invest in personnel, technology, safety systems and service standards across the network.

Stakes in a consolidating handling market

Ground handling consolidators have spent recent years assembling multi-region networks to offer operators a single point of contact, and Affinity's infrastructure spending follows that logic. The Saudi and Mexican projects in particular target markets where VIP and corporate traffic growth has outpaced dedicated business aviation capacity.

The company has not disclosed investment figures for the individual projects, and the phased 2027 transition leaves open the question of whether the Dammam, Madrid and Guadalajara facilities will reach full operational capability before the brand conversion completes.