Al Bateen names Oxford boss as new general manager

Jones is currently managing director of London Oxford Airport, iand will take up his new position on 17 November.  Steve brings 36 years of aviation experience to his new role, including ten years’ hands-on experience at Oxford Airport, one of Europe’s fastest growing business aviation airports.

Working with a small but experienced team, Steve has taken London Oxford Airport from strength to strength, capitalising on fresh investment from the Reuben Brothers, new owners since 2007 and overseeing the creation of the award-winning Oxfordjet facility. Under Steve’s stewardship many new aviation companies have made a base at the airport, now a modern, profitable airport, rightly perceived as one of the most progressive in the UK.  

Steve started his aviation career with British Aerospace in 1974 as an apprentice with Hawker Siddeley.  By the late 1980s he was quality manager, responsible for the certification of all Chester-built aircraft.  In the early 1990s he took on operational responsibility for the Hawker 125 business jet series and as a director, negotiated a life support agreement with Raytheon when they acquired the programme from BAE.  After four years working in a senior operational role with BAe’s military division he joined Signature/CSE Aviation at Oxford as Managing Director to look after MRO and aircraft sales activity.

“After ten very happy years at Oxford Airport it is going to be hard to say goodbye, but this terrific opportunity presented itself.  Taking over the day to day management and development of Al Bateen Airport is one of the most exciting and attractive projects in the industry.  There are some interesting parallels and synergies with the work I do at Oxford and this is a golden opportunity to contribute to the creation of a world-class dedicated business and VIP aviation centre,” said Steve Jones.  

He added: “London Oxford Airport has a brilliant and experienced team, supportive investors, mature development plans and a momentum that will carry the business forward.  I also hope we can pursue some unique marketing initiatives between the two airports.”

Mohammed Al Bulooki, Vice President of Al Bateen Executive Airport commented:  “The addition of Steve Jones to the management structure, brings a wealth of knowledge that will support ADAC's aim to operate to the highest service standards and so become one of the worlds most prestigious executive airports. His experience at London Oxford Airport and his wide experience in the field of private/executive aviation will be invaluable for the growth and development of Al Bateen.”

Al Bateen is the Gulf's first dedicated executive aviation airport. It is undergoing extensive re-development to be the premier business airport for the region as it prepares to double its annual movements to more than 12,000 by 2014.   

Originally built in the 1960s, Al Bateen was Abu Dhabi’s first airport.  It has handled military traffic since Abu Dhabi International Airport, located 20 miles outside the city centre, was opened in 1982, but in June 2009 Al Bateen was granted new civil airport status.