Bahrain 2012: New Saudi AOCs stimulating business aviation market

Bombardier’s regional vice president of sales for EMEA, Khader Mattar, foresaw a rosy future for his product line as the market opens up. He said: “It is impressive to see how Saudi Arabia has opened to offer more air operators’ certificates (AOCs). We are seeing more smaller start-up charter companies coming through, such as Aviation Horizons, which has just taken a Learjet 60.” 

He added that it is important for Bombardier to exhibit at the Bahrain Airshow: “It is the second biggest show in the region for us. Its location is attractive because of its proximity to Saudi Arabia, which is the leader in market share for charter.”
Mattar explained that the tremendous change the Gulf has seen over the last year has stimulated regional growth and that people are now looking to fly point-to-point within the region rather than mainly long-haul

He foresaw a strong market for Bombardier’s smaller offerings, adding that there is increasing demand for smaller aircraft as the market gradually expands throughout the entire EMEA region. He said: ”There is lots of charter and sales in Egypt and the Lebanon. There is a great mix of customers and we are seeing tremendous growth.”

Last year Mattar called for Western banks to back the Gulf’s emerging business aviation market by helping to finance more aircraft acquisitions in a region renowned for its wealth. He said: “I would like to see Western banks involved more in the Middle East; we would see more growth.

The number of defaults here would be so small it could not even be counted. I am happy to see that local banks are taking the initiative. The governments here are doing their best to develop the market.”

Mattar is bullish about prospects for Bombardier’s jets and said: “The Global is our most popular product, but there is also strong interest in Challengers, and the Learjet 60XR has been received very well, creating a whole new segment. Now is also the right time to push our new products, and the two new Global family members the 7000 and the 8000. We have had very positive feedback for both.”