Ahmed Al Jarallah, based in Kuwait City, has taken delivery of a new Challenger 605. It will be operated by Gulf Wings, so becoming the fourth Challenger aircraft in its fleet.

Al Jarallah is the editor-in-chief of Al-Seyassah, a highly-regarded Kuwaiti news and entertainment industry company founded in 1965. Its daily newspaper has a circulation of 70,000, and its web site is one of the most visited in the country.

"After long consideration, we chose the Challenger 605 jet for its spacious cabin, luxurious interior and its long range capabilities in linking key cities, such as Kuwait City to Casablanca," noted Al Jarallah, during a special entry-into-service ceremony.

See our front cover picture of Ahmed Al Jarallah at the delivery of the new aircraft. "We are delighted to welcome Mr Al Jarallah to the Bombardier family and applaud his selection of the Challenger 605 jet," said Bob Horner, svp sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft.

"This aircraft is perfectly suited for travel within the Middle East, while providing non-stop access to both Europe and Asia. The Challenger series jets lead the large aircraft segment in the Middle East with a market share of 73 per cent."

Gulf Wings passes 35 years

The Challenger's operator Gulf Wings has recently passed its 35th anniversary. The company was established in the mid-1970s when oil revenues were up and the region was in the midst of an economic boom. However, getting around the Middle East by air was difficult. The late King Hussein and Royal Jordanian executives were therefore inspired to create a business jet subsidiary, which made its first flight on May 19, 1975.

In 1978, Gulf Wings began a medical evacuation programme. Flying to Arab and European destinations, this humanitarian arm of the company raised its profile. Today Gulf Wings is an independent entity owned by the International Wings Group, and manages a large fleet of modern executive jets.