Adding peZAS for top-end tourists

The increasing number of top-end tourists visiting Egypt could soon find life easier and more comfortable when visiting the different locations.

ZAS Aviation Services is launching Jet Club with two Embraer Phenom 100 entry-level jets.

The company’s ground-handling business currently works with a number of business jet operators from Europe and the Middle East and managing director Omar Zarkani is adamant that the new operation is not in competition with his own customers.

“Many times we are asked by our customers to get a quote for local operations and they have been very expensive. We have also seen customers come into Egypt and have to use a Gulfstream for short local flights. We think there is a niche that will allow us to offer this to our customers so they can move from tourist sites or secondary cities or regions quickly and comfortably.

The excellent short-field performance of the Brazilian-built aircraft means that it will be capable of reaching areas that others will not.

“We are very impressed with the Phenom’s figures,” Zarkani said. “We have looked at the operating costs and they compete with a King Air. We think our clients will benefit.”

ZAS already has experience of aircraft operations as it previously operated freight and passenger aircraft. With its current ground-handling operation it is well positioned to know the main challenges it faces.

The concept of developing an executive flight operations business out of a ground handling company may on the surface appear to be unique. But flight operations is nothing new to ZAS.

“We had previously been exporters of fresh products,” said Sami Elias, the company’s vice president of commercial operation. “We had good contacts but realised a potential to fly our own products and those of other farms to Europe so we began our own airline. At the same time, we did not have representation within Egypt to make sure all our exports were well handled and departed on time to their different European destinations and so the Zarkani family established itself as handling agents and then offered their services first to other cargo carriers in Egypt and then to passenger carriers.

In 1982, ZAS Aviation Services also established ZAS Airline of Egypt, which was one of the first privately owned airlines in the region, but that slice of the business declined in 1995 in the face of strong competition and the company returned to its core business of ground handling. “Today, ground handling is still our main activity but we also carry out some charter flights and aircraft management,” said Elias.

The company had previously looked at buying the Grob SPn but after a crash of the prototype the programme floundered. Then the Phenoms were becoming available.

“We are waiting for the AOC but are hopeful we will have it soon,” Zarkani said.

As the tourism market in places like Sharm el Sheik continues to grow, there is more demand on top-end services. “We hear stories of wealthy tourists in Sharm who want to visit a temple and then have to fly commercial to Cairo, change flights, fly down to the nearest airport for the temple then have to do it all over again to get back. We will be offering direct flights, so they can see the temple and be back in time for dinner.”

With other economic investments in areas such as Marshah Matrouh on the Libyan border, which is served a couple of times a week by EgyptAir, ZAS sees business as well as leisure opportunities. “We want to bridge the gap,” Zarkani said