Qatar Airways' new on-demand charter division plans to build rapidly on its initial fleet of three Bombardier Challenger business jets as it looks to tap into the region's growing demand for executive travel.
The subsidiary, dubbed Qatar Executive, was unveiled at the Paris air show. It will function as a profit centre within the airline group with its own management structure.
Headed by former president of New Jersey-based ProFlite, American Ted Button, the division is launching operations with two newly delivered, 11-seat Challenger 605s along with an eight-seat Challenger 300 that is already in the airline's fleet.
"We are aiming the service at government officials, businessmen, bankers and politicians, not just in Qatar but throughout the Gulf," says Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker. He adds that "in the not too distant future" additional jets will be introduced, and the fleet is expected to grow quickly once the business is established.
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"We have seen there is demand in the Middle East. Since 2002 there is 20% growth in executive travel and we see this will continue to grow over the next three or four years. So we are positioning ourselves for this growth."
The new division builds on the experience that the airline has gained from running Qatar's Amiri Flight royal transport division. The airline says that it allows it to deliver additional flexibility and convenience to premium passengers, who will be able to combine Qatar Airways and Qatar Executive in their travel itinerary.
Qatar Executive will operate from the airline's premium terminal at Doha, and will be able to use a separate corporate aircraft apron and fixed-base operation when the city's new international airport becomes operational in 2012.
Source: Flight International
