Gulfstream and Executive Jet International plan to extend their fractional-ownership programme to the Middle East within the next six months and to the Asia-Pacific region within 12 months. The joint Gulfstream Shares marketing venture has also now been extended to cover the new Gulfstream V.
Executive Jet chairman Richard Santulli, who pioneered fractional ownership in the USA and Europe through the NetJets scheme, says that the move into the Middle East is the next logical step in creating a global network. He adds that demand has been led by existing North American customers who want access to a worldwide service.
"The GV will be the perfect connector for this global network," says Santulli, adding, however, that another aircraft type will also be offered under the Middle Eastern package, alongside the Gulfstream GIV and, eventually, the GV.
Santulli expects the Cessna Citation X to be the primary partner for the Gulfstream in the Far East. He believes that the high-speed Citation will end up being the largest single component of his rapidly expanding NetJets empire. To emphasise the point, Executive Jet has ordered a further six aircraft to add to the 25 Citation Xs ordered in September 1996.
Gulfstream chairman Theodar Forstmann says that the Middle Eastern venture will be up and running "within the next six months", and that bases in Asia-Pacific will be established "sooner rather than later". Santulli identifies either Hong Kong or Macau as a likely site for a regional base, to be established in partnership with a local investor in much the same way as the expanding NetJets Europe joins Executive Jet with Zimex Aviation and Air Luxor.
Under the Shares scheme, Gulfstream provides aircraft and technical services, while Santulli's Executive Jet operation handles operations and customer service.
The GV is now ofÌcially being offered within the programme alongside the GIV.
Source: Flight International
