Setup & Grow in Australia.
01.
THE CLIENT
Skytanking
Skytanking specialises in funding, building, and operating all parts of the on-airport jet fuel supply chain, they provide a comprehensive range of aviation fuelling services, including into-plane fueling, aviation fuel storage and hydrant management, investment in aviation at airports, and engineering services.
Currently, Skytanking operates at more than 82 international airports across 14 countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa. They handle 24.7 million cubic meters of aviation fuel annually and fuel over 2 million aircraft each year.
In April 2021, Skytanking was acquired by PrimeFlight, a leading US-based service company. This strategic acquisition has positioned the combined entity as one of the largest in the industry, offering aviation support services at over 200 locations worldwide. This merger not only expanded Skytanking’s global footprint but also enhanced its capabilities, enabling it to deliver even greater value to its clients.
Founded
1998
HQ
Hamburg, Germany
Company Size
1900+ employees
Industry
Airlines / Aviation
Specialties
Aviation Fuelling, Airport Fuel Storage, Aviation Fuel Storage Engineering, Airport Fuel Storage Investment, Fuel Hydrant System, Airport Fuel Farm“Polyglot Group has really helped us streamline our processes. Because we’re still a new company, there are times when we really just need some help and Polyglot is always there to give us advice. Laura and her team are amazing.”
02.
THE CHALLENGE
Skytanking aimed to become an international partner of choice within the aviation fuelling industry. At the end of 2020, they secured a landmark deal to operate the aviation fuel storage and hydrant system in Sydney Airport. This contract was awarded to Skytanking Australia after an extensive public tender process that evaluated the bidders’ technical and operational competencies, HSSE standards and innovative capabilities.
In order to fulfil the contract requirements, Skytanking needed to address the following:
- Urgently incorporate an Australian subsidiary to compliantly operate in Australia.
- Hire and pay staff accordance with Australian local laws.
On top of the above, in 2021, PrimeFlight acquired Skytanking, introducing new challenges.
03.
OUR SOLUTION
To facilitate their expansion into the Australian market, we partnered with Skytanking to deliver a comprehensive, multi-faceted package of services tailored to their specific needs.
- Legal Entity Setup
- We assisted Skytanking Australia to establish a local legal Australian entity as quickly as possible ensuring they could operate compliantly within Australian regulations.
- Financial Reporting & Accounting
- From a financial perspective, on time and reliable financial reporting is a priority for Skytanking Head Office and operations here in Australia. To ensure smooth, on time reporting, we provide Skytanking Australia our local accounting services ━ including monthly accounting processing and reporting, as well as batch payments.
- We also set them up with a cloud accounting software from the start, allowing the Skytanking Australia team to access their bank feed and track their money movement in near real-time
- Tax Compliance
- To meet their tax compliance requirements, we coordinated annual tax returns and lodged BAS returns, ensuring all GST reporting obligations were met in consultation with Skytanking Australia’s Tax Agent.
- Payroll Solutions:
- When Skytanking Australia was first incorporated, Polyglot provided payroll implementation and registration, including payroll tax, workers compensation and superannuation.
- Recruitment Services
- As Skytanking was entering a new market, we provided start-up recruitment assistance, through our EOR services.
- HR Setup and Support
- Once the local entity had been established, we helped Skytanking Australia with their initial HR set-up to ensure they could start operations in the Australian market in accordance with local employment law practices. We provided local templates for permanent, fixed-term and casual employment contracts to ensure they could manage all employee types compliantly.
- As they continue to build their team, Polyglot provided salary benchmarking market advice, helping Skytanking Australia better understand Australian employment and salary standards, set expectations, and better plan their budget moving forward.
- Certified Translations
- With Skytanking’s HQ based in Germany, we regularly assist them with certified translation of documents, ensuring clear and accurate communication across borders.
- Acquisition Transition
- When PrimeFlight acquired Skytanking in 2021, we facilitated the transition by implementing their HQ’s reporting & consolidation accounting software for Australia, which made the experience smooth for all parties involved.
- Once this was rolled out, we also assisted with the budgeting & forecasting process for the local entity.
- This transition required careful planning and execution to ensure continuity and alignment with the new parent company’s systems and processes.
Through our comprehensive support, Polyglot Group has enabled Skytanking to successfully navigate the complexities of expanding into the Australian market. Our tailored solutions ensured compliance with local regulations, operational efficiency, and seamless integration with their parent company.
04.
THE RESULTS
As one of the world’s largest airports in terms of fuel throughput, Sydney Airport remains an institution in the aerospace industry. The fact that it also stands as Australia’s busiest airport only adds to the appeal, making it a natural choice for Skytanking Australia.
Sydney being Skytanking’s first operation in Australia, also represents another milestone in the company’s global goal to be the preferred aviation fuel handling partner for airlines, airports, and fuel suppliers.
The company has grown further since then and is now also the operator and first independent into-plane provider at the Adelaide Fuel facility as well. We continue to assist both of these operations as they continue to grow.
Speaking of growth, over the course of 18 months, the company grew so much that their team tripled in size! Skytanking was only able to achieve these milestones due their knowledgeable and reliable business, financial & HR partner: Polyglot Group.
In Skytanking’s own words: “Polyglot Group has really helped us streamline our processes. Because we’re still a new company, there are times when we really just need some help and Polyglot is always there to give us advice. Michelle and her team are amazing.”
Our partnership with Skytanking remains strong, and we continue to work closely with them to support their ongoing needs including:
- Payroll: We continue to provide end-to-end payroll solutions, which includes preparing and processing payroll and disbursement, such as net payments to employees, PAYG monthly payments, superannuation and STP across 2 states (SA and NSW).
- Recruitment: As they continue to grow, we assist them with their hiring needs. This includes sourcing and screening candidates, conducting interviews, and managing the onboarding process
- HR Provider: we remain as their ongoing HR provider, ensuring they stay compliant with local standards. Our HR services include developing and updating employment contracts, managing employee relations, and providing guidance on local employment laws and regulations.
This strategic partnership has positioned Skytanking for continued growth and success, paving the way for impressive results. Our commitment to their success remains unwavering, as we adapt and evolve our services to meet their ever-changing needs.
