VistaJet to base bulk of new Bombardier jets in Gulf

Austrian-based VistaJet has said it sees a significant proportion of its major order for Bombardier business jets being based in the Middle East.
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VistaJet is said to be the world’s fastest growing private aviation company with the largest wholly-owned commercial fleet outside the Americas, and is the main sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show.

The company stunned industry experts last year when it ordered $1.2bn worth of Bombardier jets, said to be the world’s single biggest business jet order. Now the company says many of those aircraft will be based in the Gulf region and Saudi Arabia.


In another surprise move, the company announced it had appointed former Netjets Middle East boss Dr Elias Maroun as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Middle East to help grow the business in the region.
 
Thomas Flohr, Chairman and Founder of VistaJet said that the time is right to be further strengthening the Middle East market and expects to achieve market growth of 10 per cent in the next three years.
He said, “The Middle East private aviation market has untapped potential and VistaJet’s unique business model is attracting attention. Customers are looking for private aviation ownership, but without having the ongoing costs associated with owning their own aircraft.”
 
VistaJet is a leading global charter business and offers customers new Bombardier aircraft, at what is describes as a highly competitive market rate. VistaJet’s fleet, includes Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Learjet 85, Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and Global Express XRS.

The company recently announced a new programme offering guaranteed availability. For the first time, customers now benefit, both operationally and financially, from the largest service area in business aviation, encompassing Europe, Middle East and Asia. A Program customer can fly within, or between any of these regions for fixed hourly costs, only paying for the time they fly, because with no positioning costs.
 
Last year, the company acquired Bombardier’s business charter and fractional ownership company Skyjet International from the Canadian manufacturer.