Jet Aviation is already in discussions with both Dubai airports in preparation for an eventual transition of its operations to the Dubai World Central (DWC) site.
Although it presently provides fixed base operations (FBO) and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) offerings at both DWC and Dubai International, it anticipates that business and general aviation will eventually shift to the new facility.
As such, Jet is “in discussions with both airports to prepare our transit and define our future footprint,” says Stefan Benz, vice-president of Jet’s MRO and FBO Operations, EMEA & Asia. In the meantime, it will look to expand its service portfolio in Dubai, he says.
Meanwhile, the Switzerland-headquartered company is also eyeing growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia on the back of buoyant business in the country.
It has recently refurbished its facilities in Jeddah and Riyadh and is additionally providing ground handling services in Dammam and says all four Saudi facilities – which includes an additional site in Medina - are performing well and it hopes there may be further potential in the Kingdom.
“In the future, we are hopeful that King Khalid International airport in Riyadh will either build a new business aviation terminal or permit us to build our own facility,” says Alain Champonnois, vice-president and general manager of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia.
And there may be further sites added across the region in the coming months. “There are a number of locations in the Middle East that we are currently looking at, but that’s all I can say on the matter at this time,” says Benz.
The region also continues to generate work for Jet’s Basel-based bizliner completions business, with the Middle East likely to maintain “a very strong market presence” says Neil Boyle, vice-president and general manager for the Basel facility.
“MEBA will certainly provide a good indicator of what to expect — not just for 2015, but for the next few years to come,” he says.
Source: Flight Daily News