Northpoint Aviation Services
Northpoint Aviation Services is a privately held boutique aviation consultancy founded in 2010, serving airports, airlines, and transport authorities with strategic policy analysis, route development, PSO/state aid advisory, and secretariat services across the UK, Europe, and Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersInverness, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Northpoint Aviation Services does
Northpoint Aviation Services Ltd is a privately held boutique aviation consultancy founded in 2010, headquartered in Kings Hill, Kent with a regional office in Inverness, Scotland. The company provides specialist advisory services across three core streams: Consultancy (strategic policy analysis, airport performance assessment, route development, master planning, environmental appraisals, investment appraisals, and state aid approvals); Research (evidence-based economic impact studies, tourism and aviation analysis, benchmarking, and policy research); and Expert Support/Secretariat Services (collaboration management, administration, budgets, and agenda setting for industry groups). Its primary client segments are airports and airport groups, air operators, and transport authorities, with secondary engagement in academic institutions and aviation suppliers; the company explicitly positions itself as a leading source of knowledge on Public Service Obligations (PSOs), Route Development Funds (RDFs), and remote/peripheral aviation in Europe.
The firm is led by Managing Director Chris Cain (formerly of the UK Department for Transport, where he authored Airport Masterplan Guidance) and founder/Senior Associate Basil O'Fee (former Commercial Director of a PSO air operator with 14 years of PSO tender experience), alongside Senior Associate Professor Rico Merkert (University of Sydney, Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Air Transport Management). The team of 11 Associates operates flexibly in collaboration with universities (Sydney, Cranfield, Molde, Ghent, RGU, UHI) and other consultancies. Northpoint runs multi-year secretariat mandates for SASIG (Local Authorities representing ~11 million people), RABA Group (39 UK regional airports), the National Connectivity Taskforce, and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Regional Airports, and has participated as lead partner in EU-funded transnational projects including SPARA2020 (€2.4m, 2014-2020) and Baltic Bird.
The commercial model is project-based professional services with quote-based pricing negotiated per engagement and a mix of multi-year contracts and project work; the firm does not disclose revenue. Its proprietary technology asset is the Multimodal Carbon Assessment Model (MCAM), a deterministic modelling tool that compares carbon emissions across rail, road, and air transport modes with adjustments for turboprop efficiency, rail technology, actual route distances, and regional load factors. Geographic reach spans at least 14 countries across the UK, Ireland, Nordics, Iceland, Continental Europe, and Australia. No external funding rounds, M&A, or institutional investors have been identified; ownership appears concentrated among founding directors and associates.
Northpoint Aviation Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northpoint Aviation Services
- Legal name
- Northpoint Aviation Services Ltd
- Website
- https://northpointaviation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Northpoint Aviation Services is a privately held boutique aviation consultancy founded in 2010, serving airports, airlines, and transport authorities with strategic policy analysis, route development, PSO/state aid advisory, and secretariat services across the UK, Europe, and Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northpoint Aviation Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190), Airport Operations (48811), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)
Keywords
Where Northpoint Aviation Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Inverness
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Northpoint Aviation Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy services providing strategic policy analysis, airport performance assessment, route development, master planning, and business development advice to airports, airlines, transport authorities, and public bodies. Revenue generated through project-based consulting engagements.
- Research Services: Evidence-based research services including economic impact studies, tourism and aviation analysis, benchmarking, and policy research for clients including public bodies, academic institutions, and industry groups.
- Expert Support/Secretariat Services: Providing secretariat and research support to industry groups and collaborations including SASIG, RABA Group, National Connectivity Taskforce, and EU-funded projects like SPARA2020.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Northpoint Aviation Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northpoint Aviation Services is a specialist boutique aviation consultancy that provides strategic policy analysis, airport performance assessment, route development, master planning, and economic impact research to airports, air operators, transport authorities, and public bodies. It also delivers expert support and secretariat services to industry collaborations, and develops proprietary tools such as the Multimodal Carbon Assessment Model (MCAM) for cross-modal emissions comparison.
Product overview
Northpoint Aviation Services is a specialist boutique aviation consultancy offering a portfolio of professional services rather than a unified software product or platform. Their services include Consultancy (strategic policy analysis, airport performance assessment, route development, master planning, environmental appraisals, investment appraisals), Research (evidence-based decision-making, programme commissioning, report preparation), Expert Support (collaboration management, secretariat services, coordination), and Business Development (route development, non-scheduled revenue streams, business aviation). The company also provides sector-specific expertise in Airports & Airport Groups, Transport Authorities, Air Operators, Aviation Suppliers, and Remote and Peripheral Aviation. Recent work themes include State Aid in Aviation, Public Service Obligations (PSOs), Route Development Funds (RDFs), Economic Impact studies, Tourism and Aviation, Sustainable Aviation, Benchmarking, Advocacy, Business Aviation, and Airfreight.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aviation Consultancy Strategic policy analysis, airport performance assessment and turn-round, route development, master planning, environmental appraisals, surface access, economic impact studies, investment appraisals, state aid approvals, capital project management, and non-core revenue generation for airports, air operators, transport authorities, and public bodies.
- Aviation Research Services Evidence-based research services including economic impact studies, tourism and aviation analysis, benchmarking, and policy research for public bodies, academic institutions, and industry groups. Includes commissioning or undertaking programmes of research and interpreting data for reports, submissions, and consultations.
- Expert Support and Secretariat Services Outsourced secretariat and research support for industry groups and collaborations including SASIG, RABA Group, National Connectivity Taskforce, EU-funded projects like SPARA2020, and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Regional Airports. Services include collaboration management, administration, marketing, partnerships, consultation responses, research, and policy development.
- Business Development Services Route development from both airport and air operator perspectives, tender preparation and negotiation, airfreight development, PSO compliance, business aviation, aerial work, estate management, master-planning, and non-aeronautical income streams for airports and airlines.
- Remote and Peripheral Aviation Advisory Specialist advisory on remote and peripheral aviation issues, including Public Service Obligations (PSOs), Route Development Funds (RDFs), state aid in aviation, regional access to hub airports, and advocacy for remote and peripheral regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully secured nearly £50m of funding from external sources for one client for terminal and airfield improvements
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Northpoint Aviation Services
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Northpoint Aviation Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Northpoint Aviation Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SASIG (Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group)coreNorthpoint provides outsourced secretariat function for SASIG, a group of Local Authorities with interest in strategic aviation issues representing around 11 million people (over a fifth of England's population). Activities include administration, marketing, partnerships, consultation responses, research, and policy development.
- SPARA2020 (Smart Peripheral and Remote Airports 2020)core€2.4m Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme project (2014-2020) funded by ERDF. Partners include HITRANS (lead), Robert Gordon University, University of the Highlands and Islands (Scotland), Trafikverket, Sundsvall Timrå Airport, Storuman Municipality (Sweden), Northern and Western Assembly of Ireland, Molde University (Norway), and University of Sydney (Australia). Northpoint conceived, pioneered and executed the preparatory project, providing expert support and coordination.
- National Connectivity Taskforce (NCTF)coreNorthpoint managed the NCTF providing research and secretariat leadership, organising meetings and budgets, and writing the final report. Task Force studied connectivity requirements between UK regions and major London airports, chaired by Lord Shipley with regional representatives, travel industry individuals, and academics.
- RABA Group (Regional and Business Airports)coreNorthpoint provides all secretariat and research leadership to represent and further collective interests of UK smaller regional and business airports. Group represents 39 airports including Exeter, Norwich, Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield, Glasgow Prestwick, Humberside, Newquay Cornwall, and Highlands and Islands Airports.
- Baltic Bird ProjectcoreEU-funded transnational project focusing on PSO and Route Development Fund development for partner regions. Shortlisted air routes for Bodo Airport (Norway), Bydgoszcz Airport (Poland), Liepaja Airport (Latvia), and Savonlinna Airport (Finland). Also included Tourism Destination Development Guidelines with clients in Norway, Finland, Germany, and Scotland.
- All Party Parliamentary Group on Regional AirportsminorNorthpoint provides secretariat support to develop work agenda and undertake research on regional access to London hub, APD impact, and regional aviation's economic contribution.
- University of the Highlands and IslandscoreAcademic collaboration on SPARA2020 project and broader aviation research. Steve Westbrook, Head of Economic Intelligence Unit, cooperated with Northpoint.
- Robert Gordon UniversitycoreAcademic partner in SPARA2020 Preparatory Project, contributing research on economic impact assessment and benchmarking.
- Cranfield University Department of Air TransportcoreLongstanding academic collaboration. Dr Rico Merkert (now University of Sydney) and Dr Romano Pagliari from Cranfield worked with Northpoint on PSO research published in Transport Policy journal. Northpoint has close and longstanding links with this department.
- University of SydneycoreAcademic partner in SPARA2020 and collaborative PSO research. Professor Rico Merkert is Chair in Transport and Supply Chain Management at Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Joint papers presented at ATRS conferences.
- Molde University (Norway)coreAcademic partner in SPARA2020 Preparatory Project. Professor Svein Bråthen in Transport Economics specialises in peripheral region transport issues.
- University of GhentminorAcademic collaboration. Professor Ben Derudder works as Associate Director of GaWC (Globalization and World Cities Network) and has presented to UK forums at Northpoint's invitation. Provided research data for All Party Parliamentary Group.
- Transport in Peripheral Regions Research Network (TPRRN)coreNorthpoint is a founder member of this emergent research network including partners from universities and organisations in Australia, Norway, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Canada.
- Uniconsult (Hamburg)minorTransport consulting firm based in Hamburg, Germany. Signed MOU to explore transnational Interreg projects and collaborated on Baltic Bird tourism destination development guidelines.
- Air Transport Research Society (ATRS)coreNorthpoint Directors Basil O'Fee and Chris Cain are both members. Regular attendance and paper presentations at annual ATRS conferences (Antwerp 2017, Amsterdam 2019, Bordeaux 2014).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Northpoint Aviation Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins / SNC-Lavalin): Global design, engineering and project management consultancy with significant aviation and transport policy capability. Competes for airport strategy, master planning and government advisory work.
- ICF (including the former LeighFisher aviation practice): International advisory firm with deep aviation economics and policy capability (via the legacy LeighFisher business). Competes with Northpoint on aviation economics, policy and airport commercial advisory.
- Steer (formerly Steer Davies Gleave): Transport-focused consultancy with aviation practice areas covering policy, forecasting and economics. Comparable on transport authority and government-facing advisory mandates.
- Jacobs: Global engineering and advisory firm with an aviation practice spanning airports, airspace and transport economics. Larger-scale alternative for aviation policy and infrastructure consulting.
- WSP: Global professional services firm with an established aviation and airports practice spanning advisory, planning and infrastructure. A broader incumbent that absorbs work similar to Northpoint's portfolio.
- Mott MacDonald: Global engineering and development consultancy with a sizeable aviation practice covering airports, policy and transport planning. Competes with Northpoint on larger airport master-planning and framework mandates.
Direct peers
- York Aviation: UK-based specialist aviation economics and strategy consultancy. Highly comparable to Northpoint as a boutique aviation advisory serving airports, airlines and government clients with economic impact, route development and policy work.
- Olsberg Associates: London-based specialist consultancy with aviation, screen and creative industries expertise. Comparable boutique model and policy-led client base serving the UK and European aviation sector.
Emerging players
- Oxera: Economics consultancy with deep experience in transport, regulation and State Aid cases. Comparable on regulatory economics, PSO/State Aid advice and government-facing economic impact work.
- CAPA – Centre for Aviation: Aviation research, data and advisory firm providing intelligence, reports and consulting to airports, airlines and regulators. Adjacent business model with overlapping buyer base of airports and transport authorities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Northpoint Aviation Services social profiles
Digital presenceNorthpoint Aviation Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northpoint Aviation Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Northpoint Aviation Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northpoint Aviation Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northpoint Aviation Services
What does Northpoint Aviation Services do?
Northpoint Aviation Services is a specialist boutique aviation consultancy that provides strategic policy analysis, airport performance assessment, route development, master planning, and economic impact research to airports, air operators, transport authorities, and public bodies. It also delivers expert support and secretariat services to industry collaborations, and develops proprietary tools such as the Multimodal Carbon Assessment Model (MCAM) for cross-modal emissions comparison.
Is Northpoint Aviation Services a public or private company?
Northpoint Aviation Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Northpoint Aviation Services founded?
Northpoint Aviation Services was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Northpoint Aviation Services based?
Northpoint Aviation Services is headquartered in Inverness, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Northpoint Aviation Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consultancy Services are the primary driver. The others are research Services and expert Support/Secretariat Services.
Who are Northpoint Aviation Services's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins / SNC-Lavalin), ICF (including the former LeighFisher aviation practice), Steer (formerly Steer Davies Gleave), Jacobs, WSP and Mott MacDonald. Direct peers are York Aviation and Olsberg Associates. Emerging players are Oxera and CAPA – Centre for Aviation.
Does Northpoint Aviation Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northpoint Aviation Services.
What industry is Northpoint Aviation Services in?
Northpoint Aviation Services's product category is Aviation Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIALAE, Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access). Its NAICS code is 488190 and its SIC code is 4581.