MIAMI-Fixed base operator Banyan Air Service has inked a $40million, 20-year lease with Ave Aviation & Commerce Center, amaster-planned business park spanning more than 2.5 million squarefeet, at the Opa-lock Executive Airport. Banyan will occupy a new135,000-square-foot facility that will be built-to-suit by Avedeveloper CPF Investment group.

“After looking at several possibilities at other airports, weconcluded that the projected growth at Opa-locka and theopportunity for expansion there within Ave made it the obviouschoice for our company,” says Ft. Lauderdale-based Banyan AirService President Don Campion. “We look forward to the start ofconstruction of our new hangar and maintenance facility in early2011.”

Banyan’s lease includes 21 acres on the west side of theairport, with direct aircraft access to the runways and taxiways.Banyan will provide comprehensive aviation services includingfueling, hangar space, aircraft sales, maintenance, and avionicsservices at the airport, which is nearing completion of a new230-foot air traffic control tower to accommodate its growth.