Bahrain 2012: Aviation Horizons plans to help kill Saudi grey charter market

A key part of this strategy is to work with the four other private jet Part 135 charter operators to educate aircraft owners on the dangers of illegal charters.

Chief executive Mohammed Bokhari (pictured) said: “If people really understood how much they would hurt if they had an accident, that it could cost them more than $20 million in unpaid insurance, they might think twice before operating these flights.”

He pointed out that the new initiatives by the General Authority of Civil Aviation would help. Bokhari reckons there are more Saudi AOCs in the pipeline, and said: “The more aircraft there are in the country the more that will help eliminate the grey charter market.”

Aviation Horizons has just taken delivery of a Bombardier Learjet 60XR, which was in the air between Bahrain and Jeddah yesterday.

Bokhari said: “There is more demand in the country than there are aircraft. We are really busy.”

The company would like to acquire "at least three more planes" by the end of the year, likely Bombardier types. Bokhari added: “We would eventually like to have three Learjets and two Challengers on our books.” The firm is also interested in becoming a Bombardier distributor in Saudi.

Bokhari added that there is huge demand for private lift in Saudi, so much so that even European operators are coming to the kingdom. “There is enough for everyone,” he said.