Why EBACE is the strongest link

Although last year dampened the spirits of many in the business aviation sector, some areas of the world continue to give hope to OEMs and other firms hoping to sell their services.

According to regular EBACE exhibitors, the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), the Middle Eastern market is set to expand 15-20 per cent each year for the next four years.

MEBAA reckons that there are around 500 aircraft in the region – the two largest markets are Saudi Arabia , with 114 aircraft and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has an installed fleet of 78 jets. Chairman Ali Al Naqbi will be helping to promote the Middle East Business Aviation show in November. He is bullish about regional prospects and said of the market: “Although there have been order cancellations worldwide, as far as I know none of those are from the Middle East .”

Several companies from the region are at EBACE. Dubai-based JetEx Flight Support, for example, has become a show stalwart. The company has operations centres in: Africa, Eastern Europe and the UAE. This year it will be flagging up its new FBO in Le Bourget, which it announced at last year’s Paris Air Show. Adel Mardini, chief executive said: “EBACE is an important show for us. We have two divisions – flight support for Middle East, African and European operators as well as an FBO in Paris . We are going to focus on the progression of our FBO at the show.” He added that the networking opportunities and sheer numbers of strong interested contacts make the exhibition a valuable event. He said: “EBACE and the Dubai Air Show are our most important industry shows.”

Fellow flight planners Hadid International Aviation Services has been in business since 1981. While the company also serves the commercial and cargo sectors of the industry, it derives most of its income from its VIP division. Hadid’s core offering to the private jet sector is obtaining over-flight and landing permits worldwide. The firm also settles navigation, fuel and handling charges on behalf of its clients and offers charter flights. Founder Baha Hadid attributed the company’s success to the high quality of service it delivers. He said: “We take real pride in the high standards that govern every aspect of our operations...our success is rooted in the dedication of a highly-educated, highly-motivated global team.”

Dubai-based Palm Aviation has also taken a booth. In 2009 the company announced the first FBO at Dubai World Central (DWC) Aviation City , which will be home to the world’s largest MRO centre with an investment of around US$11 million. The 80,000 square feet FBO facility will be built within the 140 square kilometre urban aviation project under construction at Jebel Ali, UAE. Palm Aviation will extend its existing global flight support operations centre to DWC Aviation City from its current location in Dubai Airport Free Zone – part of the company’s expansion strategy, set to see it grow by 35 per cent annually over the next five years across the region.

Airport developments are key to the aviation sector’s growth in the region. Exhibitor Jordanian Private Jets (JPJ) will likely be promoting its new VIP terminal at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba with eight crew lounges, plus parking space on the ramp for private jets. The nine-year-old company expects its airport development project to be complete at the end of this year. JPJ also offers ground-handling and aircraft charter and management services and has a Challenger 601 and 604 on its books as well as a Falcon 2000 and Hawker 800XP.

Another airport developer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), will have a great deal to talk about. Last June the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority awarded its managed entity, Al Bateen Executive Airport, full aerodrome certification, transforming it from a military airbase to an airfield serving ADAC’s fleet of managed private aircraft, as well as those of other operators. HE Khalifa Al Mazrouei, ADAC’s chairman, said: “ADAC plays a key role in actualising ‘Plan Abu Dhabi 2030’ and supporting the projected growth and diversification of the Emirate’s economy with the required air transport infrastructure. Business travellers and VIPs with time pressures will appreciate the fast security clearance, the total lack of queues and waiting time, and direct access to the aircraft.” 

Last year’s EBACE saw Jordanian charter operator RayaJet make one of the few show orders with an announcement for the region’s first Beechcraft Premier II to service its joint venture with Ayla Aviation Academy to offer pilot training, business jet maintenance, ground-handling and aircraft charter. The Premier II is due for delivery in 2011. The Jordanian government is actively pushing the country as one of the Middle East ’s key aviation hubs.

In addition to exhibitors, there will be other key industry players with established bases in the Gulf promoting their services to their European and Middle Eastern clients. ExecuJet, Jet Aviation, Signature Flight Support and VistaJet all have growing entities in the region.

Signature Flight Support, for example, was recently awarded the license for into-plane fuelling and pre-clearance services to the US at Shannon Airport . Patrick Sniffen, vice president flight support said: “Signature is confident that with Shannon now offering fuelling as well as pre-clearance, it will make it a perfect tech stop for customers flying from the Middle East to an approved US airport. The constituency of people that attend EBACE rather than NBAA encompasses customers from the Middle and Far East, as well as those from Europe . We are feeling positive about this year’s show.”

VistaJet’s founder, Thomas Flohr, is also looking forward to this year’s show. He said: “We always enjoy the show. Geneva is a great place to network and meet our clients from the Middle East , as well as other areas of the world.”