AIRBUSES ON SHOW
Two Airbus corporate jets are at the show, comprising an A318 Elite operated by Al Jaber Aviation (AJA) of Abu Dhabi and an Airbus Corporate Jet based in Bahrain and operated by Comlux. Both aircraft are available for VVIP charter. AJA began offering its Airbus A318 Elite for VVIP charter flights earlier this year and is the first Airbus customer from the region to offer this service. It is also the largest Airbus customer for charter aircraft in the Middle East, having ordered four A318 Elites and two Airbus ACJs. Comlux has an A318 Elite and an Airbus ACJ based in Bahrain. "It can literally be a case of see, buy and fly in the Middle East market," says Airbus chief operating officer, customers John Leahy.
DC BACK FOR MORE
German business jet operator DC Aviation is attending MEBA for the third time, exhibiting one of its four Airbus Corporate Jets. "The Middle East is an extremely vibrant and promising market for us," says Michael Kuhn, chief executive of Stuttgart-headquartered DC Aviation. "We ascertain a growing demand for long-haul flights... With our three new VVIP aircraft, we want to offer customers in the region more highly customised charter services. For us the show is an excellent contact platform to initiate a dialogue with potential customers" says Kuhn. "This year we are especially keen to present our new acquisition, the VVIP Airbus, because this aircraft type attracts great interest."
REGION'S FIRST 650
Embraer on the eve of the show delivered the first Legacy 650 large business jet in the Middle East to an undisclosed customer from Jordan during a ceremony held at the Brazilian manufacturer's headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The aircraft will be managed on behalf of its owner by private jet charter operator Arab Wings, which is also based in Jordan.
AB JETS IN
Czech business aircraft services provider ABS Jets (stand E256) has received authorisation to carry out maintenance of UAE-registered aircraft. The Prague-based company has obtained CAR145 approval to maintain Embraer Legacy 600 and Phenom 100/300 aircraft. Established in 2004, ABS says that it is making a "massive" investment in infrastructure and facilities, increasing its capacity by building a new hangar at Prague airport and refurbishing its existing hangar.
Source: Flight Daily News
