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Mideast markets for private jets recover

DUBAI — The Middle East market for private jets shows signs of recovery and long-range aircraft leads the trend, according to top officials of ExecuJet Middle East.

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ExecuJet is a leading global business aviation organisation offering a diverse range of services including pre-owned and new aircraft sales, aircraft management for private and commercial registered aircraft, aircraft charter, aircraft maintenance, aircraft completions management and fixed base operations.

The company, in January, welcomed the largest and latest addition to its 20-strong managed fleet in the region – the new VIP 19-seat Embraer Lineage. Based at Dubai International Airport, it complements ExecuJet’s existing charter offering and is now available for third party charter.

“The market for private jets in the region is well established and continues to recover although at a slower pace than expected. There is a growing trend towards larger aircraft which has a truly global reach,” ExecuJet Middle East managing director Mike Berry said.

Last year, at Dubai Airshow, the company announced a strategic partnership with National Air Services (NAS Holding) to develop an FBO at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh.

“ExecuJet’s approach to regional expansion is based on good local partners and sound business ethics with expansion being organic as well as directed,” Mike Berry added.

Presently the company has seven aircraft operations certificates worldwide (Switzerland, Denmark, UK, UAE, Australia, South Africa, News Zealand). In addition it also has 16 FBOs (fixed based operations).

Swiss-headquartered, ExecuJet Aviation Group established a base in Dubai in 1999 and was one of the first independent companies to offer business aviation services in the region.

The Middle East facility is based at Dubai International Airport Free Zone (DAFZ) and provides Maintenance, Aircraft management, charter, sales, completions consulting and FBO facilities.

The company on Wednesday invited a select journalists to visit its facility at the DAFZ where it has two hangers for maintenance and parking of aircraft. Later-on media people were provided an exclusive chance to experience the life aboard Embraer Lineage 1000.

“We are delighted to introduce this Embraer Lineage into our ever-growing family of managed aircraft. Not only is it the largest in our management fleet but, it offers very competitive operating economics. It is a tremendously attractive charter aircraft and we know it will be appreciated by our discerning charter customers,” said Paul van der Blom, business development director and head of Aircraft Management, ExecuJet Middle East. The company is expected get more aircraft under management in three to four months, Paul told Khaleej Times during the media day. He mentioned all combined private and commercial flight reached 1,500 last year. “Winter is always busy season for us this year was the same that starts from October to January,” he added.

Talking about the rage of new Embraer from Dubai, the company officials said it’s easy to touch London, Bangkok and Moscow from Dubai. Private jet rates starts from $4,000 per hour to $11,500 per hour, depending on the aircraft size, they added.

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com

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