FCG OPS Strengthens International Trip Support with Appointment of Ilaria Iacobini

FCG OPS has enhanced its international trip support offering as part of the company’s next stage of growth, leveraging 26 years of operational aviation experience to serve operators worldwide. Supporting this development, FCG OPS has appointed Ilaria Iacobini as Business Development Manager, EMEA, bringing extensive industry knowledge and expertise to the team.

For over two decades, FCG OPS has been recognized across the aviation industry as an outsourced operational control center (OCC) and ground handling services provider. Behind these established areas of the business lies significant day-to-day experience in delivering international trip support.

The FCG OPS team currently supports approximately 20,000 flight legs and secures more than 5,000 permits annually. By combining operational expertise, direct relationships with suppliers and aviation authorities, and local knowledge, the company ensures seamless support for flights across the globe. While FCG OPS has a strong local presence through its ground handling network spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa, its operational experience and capabilities extend worldwide.

FCG OPS is now channeling this accumulated expertise into the market with an increased focus on international trip support, positioning the service as an operational solution for customers requiring experienced, accountable, and technically competent support for complex international flights.

“For us, developing trip support is a natural evolution of what FCG OPS has been doing for many years,” said Yuri Nadezhdin, Director of Business Development, FCG OPS. “Every year, our operations team manages thousands of flights, permits, and ground services around the world. Operators are not simply looking for another supplier — they need a partner who understands the operational pressure, takes responsibility, and knows how to find a solution when plans change or challenges arise. We see ourselves as an extension of the customer’s team: we don’t just work for them, we work with them. We have the right size to deliver and the right mindset to care. The company is large enough to provide the capabilities and expertise expected from a global provider, yet agile enough to remain personal, responsive, and flexible. Ilaria joining FCG OPS is an important part of this development. Her experience and industry knowledge will help us bring our operational expertise to more customers and further strengthen our presence, particularly across EMEA.”

The appointment of Ilaria Iacobini bolsters the commercial side of this strategy. As Business Development Manager, EMEA, she will focus on building relationships with operators, introducing FCG OPS’ trip support capabilities to the industry, and identifying solutions tailored to their operational requirements.

“I am thrilled to join FCG OPS as Business Development Manager at such an exciting stage of the company’s journey,” said Ilaria Iacobini, Business Development Manager, EMEA. “This is a great opportunity to join a company with a highly experienced operations team and a strong commitment to delivering first-class aviation handling and trip support services. I look forward to reconnecting with many familiar faces, building new relationships, and contributing to the next stage of FCG OPS’ growth.”

The service model is designed to be flexible. Customers can use FCG OPS for selected operational services or rely on the team as an extension of their own flight operations, with one accountable partner coordinating the trip end-to-end. This support combines global operational capabilities with in-depth regional knowledge and local expertise, enabling the team to understand both the broader requirements of an international mission and the realities of operating at specific destinations.

The foundation of the service is an experienced 24/7 operations team, with specialists trained in accordance with ICAO Doc 10106 competency-based training standards for flight dispatchers and operational control provisions of EASA GM1 ORO.GEN.110. Beyond arranging requested services, the team brings an operational perspective to each assignment, identifying relevant operational restrictions and, where appropriate, advising on alternative solutions.

Technology also plays a key role in this approach, with FCG ATOM providing customers with live operational visibility. Continued investment in automation, including AI-supported tools, enhances oversight and streamlines processes.

With a strong 24/7 operations team, in-depth expertise across multiple regions, flexible service delivery, and personal accountability, FCG OPS offers one experienced partner capable of overseeing the entire trip, anticipating challenges, and addressing them before they arise.