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Private Aviation in the Middle East sees 15 percent growth
Private Aviation in the Middle East is continuing to see growth in leisure travel, said senior executives of private aviation companies.
“The market in the Middle East is still growing at 15 per cent year on year with regard to private jet fleets,” commented Kevin Ducksbury, director of Air Partner. “There is no doubt that growth has slowed down after the recession. Nevertheless, there is still some growth in this region, which is its difference between Europe and America.”
Ducksbury said that the region is still a young market and with only 400 jets available for charter. He says that American and European private jet companies should consider moving extra capacity to the Middle East because it is a lucrative market.
Air Partner is an aircraft charter broking company that offers three main services: private jet passenger services, commercial jet passenger services, and cargo charters.
Mike Berry—managing director of ExecuJet Middle East—says that they have experienced a steady stream of revenue for the first half of 2009.
“We have actually seen a steady growth within our maintenance business,” says Berry.
ExecuJet handles aircraft sales, charter management, maintenance, and fixed base operations.
Berry said: “Also encouraging are the positive signs across the industry over the last two months, with an increase in activity and enquiries recorded on all fronts of aircraft sales, charter and management opportunities. More aircraft deliveries have also happened in the region.”
In Europe and the US, corporate travel has significantly decreased, while the Middle East continues to see demand—it comes at a slower pace.
He explains: “For our charter operations we can generally identify a slight decrease in smaller companies chartering aircraft. But the demand for heavy jets and long-haul flights is still strong. In the case of international companies, business jets are more a business tool than a luxury item as they are sometimes perceived to be.”
Berry mentioned, “The market still reflects monthly spikes depending on particular demand for small or larger wide-body aircraft, which leave us in a good position going into the second half of the year.”
ExecuJet Middle East currently has a fleet of 13 fully managed aircrafts and six partially managed aircrafts, while Air Partner is planning to expand its services in the region.
Source: Business 24-7
