The booming business aviation market in the Middle East means increased demand for the support services the sector needs to operate. New maintenance and fixed base operations (FBO) facilities are in construction or planned in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Dubai.
Today at the show, Jet Aviation will announce its plans for a third facility in the region. The Swiss-owned business aviation services company, which already has operations in Riyadh and Jeddah, is set to build a new base at Dubai International Airport.
Jet Aviation Dubai, a joint venture with the Almulla Business Group, is due for completion in the second half of 2004, says chief executive Heinz Köhli.
Speaking on the eve of the show, Köhli stressed the importance of Dubai as a regional hub: "As one of the most important business centres in the Middle East, Dubai is a significant strategic new market for Jet Aviation.
"Our goal is to become the No 1 service company to the executive aviation industry in the region."
Jet Aviation Dubai will offer scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, aircraft repair, defect rectifications, aircraft modifications as well as avionics installations and retrofits. Its 4,200m2 (45,000ft2) hangar will accommodate two Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) or Airbus Corporate Jets simultaneously.
With 1,000m2 of workshops on site, Jet Aviation says it will apply for Authorised Service Centre status on Boeing, Gulfstream, Falcon, Cessna, Raytheon and Embraer aircraft.
Source: Flight Daily News
