Whilst the local airport has attracted plenty of attention in the local and Spanish press as a result of the Cordoba Agreement and, in particular, plans included therein to construct a modern and up-to-date airport complex for joint use by Gibraltar and Spain, the runway itself has hardly played a protagonist’s role. Quite apart from the fact that the runway, like the airport, is located on the sandy isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain, the epicentre of the Spanish sovereignty claim, not much is written about it. The website www.travelandleisure.com has, recently however, recognised our runway as the fourth ‘scariest runway’ in the world!
On a list which includes, surprisingly, Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, the article explains that “pinched in by the Mediterranean on its eastern flank and the Bay of Gibraltar (the author obviously failing to understand the Pandora’s Box such a label attracts) on its western side, the airport’s truncated runway stretches just 6,000 feet (1.8km) and requires pinpoint precision. And upon hitting the tarmac, pilots must quickly and fully engage the auto-brakes. Yet as nerve-wracking as the landing can be, it’s never guaranteed. Because of Gibraltar’s unique topography, the British colony endures localised weather patterns that cause flights to be diverted to nearby ... Malaga.”
The other world’s scariest runways include, in no particular order: Paro Airport, Bhutan; Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten; Matekane Air Strip, Lesotho; Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland; and Toncontin Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Exotic locations, certainly, but a flight to Gibraltar is about more than just the fairground ride attraction of the landing on the short strip. Gibraltar offers much more than you might have thought at first glance.
The knee-jerk reaction flowing from the economic crises is making business in the established financial capitals of the world harder by the day. If, over the years, you’ve done well for yourself and have a good income, the screws are being turned ever tighter. In England, the Chancellor recently announced the implementation of a 50p income tax for those individuals making more than £150,000 a year and, in Switzerland, the lump sum tax regime is due to be phased out in Zurich within the year, a move which is suspected will be followed by other cantons where a larger number of individuals is expected to be affected. Isn’t it time you made a move?
Gibraltar has a diverse Financial Services offering which exploits Gibraltar's status as part of the EU and the subsequent passporting advantages available to Gibraltar licensed institutions. This, coupled with a dynamic and approachable Regulator makes Gibraltar a very attractive jurisdiction for business looking for a new home. Gibraltar's location and Central European time zone means that there are only advantages to be had from moving here. Located on the Mediterranean, in Continental Europe yet retaining a common law system, with easy and developing connections by air to London, Manchester, Madrid and Barcelona, you have access to a number of international hubs, all within a couple of hours of the Peninsula. For its size, Gibraltar boasts one the most diversified small economies in Europe with no over-reliance on any one pillar of its economy. Add to this the high net worth residency tax regime available in Gibraltar (for more information log on to www.gibraltarresidency.com). and the finance centre’s emergence as a leading centre for fund establishment and administration and you’re looking at a very attractive proposition, regardless of how ‘scary’ a landing here may be.
Come to Gibraltar, its time you made your move.