Aircraft

Middle Eastern investors are to establish an aircraft conversion centre in Oman that will provide executive interiors for large commercial airframes.

The centre will be constructed over the next 18 months and be able to handle types such as the Boeing 737, 757 and MD-80.

It is being established by the Muscat-based venture Joint Aviation Development, which includes private equity firm Oman Investment, Kuwaiti finance company Aqeeq Aviation Holdings, and Abu Dhabi consultancy Jadwin Aviation.

Headed by chief executive Thomas Finck, Joint Aviation Development will aim to offer a conversion service to "transform quality commercial aircraft into flying offices and luxury accommodation".

It says its customers will be government organisations and corporations, as well as select individuals.

Finck says: "The opportunity to hire local Omani citizens, to train and license them for these high-tech aerospace jobs, is what brought us to Oman. It's the perfect place to find a great workforce that will meet our needs."

Aqeeq Aviation Holdings already has investments in Bangladeshi airline Best Air, as well as carriers in locations including Benin and Iraq.

In September Aqeeq also disclosed plans to establish an aviation training organisation, the World Aviation Academy, in Malaysia.