BBGA Honors Penny Stephens, CEO of Inflite The Jet Centre

Penny Stephens, CEO of Inflite The Jet Centre and vocal proponent of business aviation, was heralded yesterday by the British Business Aviation Association (BBGA) as the recipient of its prestigious Michael Wheatley Award for Outstanding Services to the general aviation industry.  The award was presented by BBGA Chairman Marwan Khalek and Marc Bailey, CEO of BBGA, during the Association’s annual conference at Luton Hoo, attended by over 140 industry delegates and guests.

Penny’s interest in aviation began aged 17, when she learned to fly at the Southend Flying School.  Her first aviation job was with Thurston Aviation in Stapleford, working alongside the legendary Eric Thurston. Serving initially as a secretary, she swiftly moved into administration, then took on a dual operational role in ATC and as a pilot assistant.  This is where, aged 20, she met her future husband, Ray Stephens, whose Piper Chieftain was based there.

After a career break to have a family, Penny joined Ray at his fledgling aviation company, Inflite, in 1992.  She quickly took on all aspects of the MRO business and was instrumental in signing up legacy airlines such as Aer Lingus and Lutfhansa. In 2012, as CEO, Penny transformed Inflite The Jet Centre into a luxurious dedicated FBO and MRO, responding to a gap in the market for larger ‘VVIP’ lounges to host executive flights.