ExecuJet Middle East has doubled in size since it moved into its purpose-built facility at Dubai at the last Dubai Show in 2005, and managing director Mike Berry is planning a further 50% increase in the company’s fleet by next June.
“Our growth since the last Dubai air show has been good,” he says. “The biggest impact has been the increase in staff members to cope with this. We’re now at 118 and still growing. Aircraft-wise we have 14 now and by June that will rise to 20.”
ExecuJet’s current charter fleet comprises a Citation 3, Learjet 60, Challenger 300 and a Challenger 604. “This will also grow to include a Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and two more Learjet 60s for charter,” says Berry. “But as a business overall we are also looking to support other manufacturers.”
Future growth involves Dubai’s new airport. “We’ve already secured space at the new Dubai World Central airport in Jebel Ali - not a replacement, but an expansion. To continue our growth we are looking for engineers and pilots.”
ExecuJet started operations in Dubai in 1999, and was the first company to be awarded an AOC for charter operations. ExecuJet services include from aircraft management, charter, sales, maintenance, and FBOs, and Berry says maintenance is booming. “We’re the only approved service centre in the region, and we can attract maintenance that would otherwise have to go to Europe. As a result we’re also seeing demand from around the Indian sub-continent.”
ExecuJet is the local Bombardier agent, and Berry would like to its non-Bombardier business. “We’ve got our hands full just dealing with our Bombardier maintenance,” he says. “We’re doing good business across all of our sectors and this is certainly boosted by our partnership with such a successful OEM. We’re fully GCAA approved and are looking to get EASA, FAA and other approvals, which opens up the ability to again gain more work and capture through traffic.”
Source: Flight Daily News
