The Middle East Business Aviation Association has offered to intercede in a dispute between Rizon Jet and Qatar's civil aviation authority, which the Doha-based operator accuses of preventing it competing with state-owned Qatar Airways.
MEBAA chairman Ali Al Naqbi says the organisation wants to help its member "build a bridge and create an effective means of communicating concerns" with the authority. It has also raised the matter with the Montreal-based International Business Aviation Council.
Al Naqbi says MEBAA's objective is to create "a sustainable and competitive environment in Qatar that will facilitate increased adoption and accessibility for business aviation in the Middle East."
In January, Rizon chief executive Capt Hassan Al-Mousawi said the authority was "creating obstacles" to its "progress to grow" at Doha's airport, where the Qatari-owned company competes directly with Qatar Executive - the business jet charter arm of Qatar Airways.
Among his claims were that the authority had broken an agreement to allow third-parties to use Rizon's VIP terminal, and for Rizon to offer flight support services to other carriers.
Al-Mousawi highlighted the fact that Qatar Airways operates the airport, and effectively has a monopoly on ground handling - something he said created an "uneven playing field".
Privately-owned Rizon, which also owns a fixed-base operation at London's Biggin Hill airport, was set up in 2006 and offers a range of business aviation services, including charter and hangerage.
Source: Flight International
