National Air Services (NAS) has signed a $170 million order for 14 Raytheon Hawker 800XPs, taking the NetJets Middle East aircraft portfolio and orderbook to $760 million.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-based NAS, which operates Executive Jet' s NetJets fractional ownership programme in the Middle East, Turkey and Cyprus, will take delivery of the first 800XP next June. Five aircraft will be delivered in the first year and three each year through to 2003. The 800XP is already in service with NetJets Europe and NetJets USA.
The mid-size jet, powered by a Garrett TFE731-BR, will feature satellite communications, state-of-the-art avionics and include provision for an enlarged baggage area. The youngest of Executive Jet's fractional ownership programmes, NetJets Middle East already has 14 Gulfstream IVSPs and 12 Falcon 2000 on order.
By the end of this year four of the GIVs will be in service, with a 13-aircraft fleet to be operational by the end of 2000, says Mohammed Al Zeer, director general NAS.
Kevin Russell, senior vice-president at Executive Jet , says: "We anticipate that the GIV, the Falcon 2000 and the Hawker 800 will meet the requirements of our Middle East customers."
NAS and Executive Jet have spent the last year putting the infrastructure in place to support the Middle East operation, says Vincent Santulli, executive vice- president, Executive Jet. A one-eighth share in a GIVSP costs NetJets Middle East customers $3.9 million, with a monthly management fee of $21,500 and an hourly rate of $3,000 on flights within the Gulf region. For flights outside the region the cost is $3,400, says Santulli.
A one-eighth share entitles customers to 75 flying hours a year. Share prices have yet to be released for the Falcon 2000 and the Hawker 800, he says.
Meanwhile, Executive Jet is working on plans to extend its fractional ownership network to Asia and South America next year, says Santulli.
"Complex issues", such as regulatory and access barriers, especially access to China for an Asian NetJets, need to be solved before the network is extended, he says.
NetJets South America would be easier to launch than NetJets Asia, but establishing an Asian operation is higher on the company's priority list.
"We've got people there now [South America and Asia] meeting potential partners and trying to resolve problems," says Santulli.
Source: Flight International
