criteria as an FBO is 3,138 as of April 2009 according to a survey conducted by Aviation Resource Group International (ARGI). The number has decreased since the 2006 survey, which counted 3,346 FBOs. Asia (continent) FBOs are taking some time to grow in the Asian continent, but they have appeared most notably in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Thailand and the Philippines. This is mainly due to the immaturity of the private and corporate aviation sector in Asia where there still exist very few of these aircraft when compared to the United States and Europe. However several companies do offer "FBO services" at airports throughout the region, making use of existing facilities, the main point being the provision of credit for overseas operators. References Aircraft ground handling Civil aviation