Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
National Air Services (NAS) is launching a business aircraft charter operation in the Middle East, to complement its NetJets Middle East fractional ownership venture. The two programmes are scheduled to start up simultaneously in July.
"This will offer a tremendous advantage to our [fractional ownership] customers by offsetting some of the costs associated with aircraft ownership, as when their aircraft are not being used, they will become available for charter," says NAS director of marketing Hussain Dabbas.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-based NAS says that although the charter operation will be a secondary business, there will be a strong demand from individuals who fly up to 65h a year.
The business community in the Middle East is affluent and there will be a need to travel, especially during busy seasons when the commercial airlines have reached full capacity, adds Dabbas.
NAS is scheduled to take delivery of four Gulfstream IV-SP business jets for its fractional ownership fleet this year - two core aircraft in April and July and two customer owned aircraft in July and November. "We have two agreements in place with Gulfstream for 12 GIVs, which will be delivered at a rate of two to three aircraft per year, and with Dassault for 10 Falcon 2000s. We hope to take delivery of two Falcon 2000s next year," says Dabbas.
NetJets Middle East, a joint venture between NAS, US-based Executive Jet and Gulfstream, is also in discussion with Raytheon, Cessna and Boeing Business Jets on adding aircraft to its system.
Source: Flight International
