Fresh from its record-breaking deal with Switzerland's VistaJet, Bombardier is at MEBA "very optimistic" about the Middle East market, and believes companies and individuals here are "more educated" than ever about business aviation.
"The market is healthy and we have seen a marked rise in demand for charter in the past six or seven months," says Khader Mattar, regional vice-president for sales in the Middle East and Africa. "That will feed through to increased aircraft sales."
Confidence is also reflected in activity in the second-hand market. "We are seeing a change in the entry level. People are willing to take the risk with bigger aircraft," says Mattar. At the moment, this is mainly with pre-owned jets, but he expects new aircraft sales to begin to pick up, too.
The Canadian airframer has three aircraft on display at the show: a Global 5000 (with Vision cockpit), a Challenger 850 and a Challenger 605.
In its latest market forecast, Bombardier says that the Middle East and Africa will receive up to 1,995 business jet deliveries during the 2012-2031 period: 735 deliveries between 2012 and 2021, and 1,260 from 2022 to 2031. The 2011 fleet of 775 business jets will grow to 2,440 aircraft by 2031, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 6%.
Source: Flight Daily News