ExecuJet Middle East has reported that business jet charter activity in the region has picked up significantly in recent months.

Marketing coordinator Colleen Harding said: “Despite no acquisitions having been made to the fleet in the past two years, the Learjet 60 and Challenger 604 continue to operate out of Dubai to very high performance levels.” She continued: “We have been heavily utilising both aircraft as a result of increased demand for charter travel. However, they are both proving to be very reliable in the challenging environment in which they are being operated.”

The company anticipates taking delivery of a Global Express at the beginning of February 2004 although every effort is being taken to bring the aircraft in earlier. They also now have a Dubai-based Pilatus

PC-12 available for charter. The PC-12 will provide entry-level charter jet operations and will ferry up to

six passengers between Gulf destinations. The Global Express

will provide a platform capable of seating up to 16 passengers and almost reaching North America non-stop from Dubai. ExecuJet Middle East hopes that this will give customers the full range of aircraft options in assigning the most efficient solution for the specific mission required, whether it is intra-Gulf or intercontinental.

“Aside from the two aircraft operating out of Dubai, we are in the process of commercialising a Learjet 60 and a Challenger 604 based in Cairo, Egypt,” Harding continued. “The increased demand for charter that we have seen has been prevalent throughout the region and not just confined to Dubai or the Gulf. We hope to position more resources in several strategic locations that we project as having significant potential.

“Given the urgent nature of many of our requests and the price-sensitivity in the region, insurance surcharges and overflight clearances are the biggest challenges that we continue to try and manage in our operations.”

The company claims that it will not ‘cut corners’ in order to compete with the many ‘grey-market’ operators throughout the region. “We differentiate ourselves by setting the highest professional and service standards,” they said. “As with any other industry, innovation is important and we continue to develop aircraft flexibility and other aviation solutions.”

In further news, a maintenance facility is due for completion in July or August of next year. Building has not yet commenced although it is due to begin in early January 2004.