There was a celebratory air in the Royal Jet camp (C15) yesterday as Bombardier’s Skyjet International announced that it has chosen the charter company as one of its Middle East partners.
The agreement brings Skyjet’s fleet to 16 aircraft, including the Challenger 300 unveiled on Sunday.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarek Al Nahyan, Royal Jet’s chairman, says: “Royal Jet is very pleased by the alliance and partnership established with Skyjet. It is a strategic step that reflects our commitment to enhance our customer base.”
The company’s VVIP/VIP customers are businessmen and families who are able to have aircraft reconfigured to their needs within two and a half hours of confirming availability.
Skyjet, too, is upbeat about its business prospects in the Gulf. “The Middle East continues to be one of our most important emerging markets with demand increasing at exponential rates,” says Skyjet managing director Judith Moreton.
Skyjet’s service offers a fleet of more than 900 aircraft from the Learjet and Challenger families and the Global Express and access to 5,500 airports worldwide. In the last six months the company has increased the number of hours sold in the Middle East by more than 40% and doubled its customer base in the region.
Christopher Crum, Royal Jet’s president and chief executive, is part of the team driving business aviation development in the region. Crum believes take up for private flight is on the increase: “There is a regional trend for a wider acceptance and recognition of the value of business aircraft and people are looking at the safety and privacy of this mode of travel.
“At the recent shopping Expo in Dubai, 250 business jets turned up.
“The Middle East is in a tremendous position right now renewing its position as the crossroads between the East and West. Globally, business aviation is doing very well and this region is no exception.”
LIZ MOSCROP
Source: Flight Daily News
