UK-based broker International Air Charter (IAC) took part in this year’s Farnborough air show, as part of a campaign to drive visibility for the Middle East region among international audiences.

The company recently opened an office in Dubai and is working with several Middle East executive jet operators including ExecuJet and Bahrain-based Bexair.

“The region is enjoying a boom,” said IAC’s chief executive Hugh Courtenay, “with new airlines being created and lucrative market audiences.

“We are keen to see more executive jet aircraft based in the region as we are seeing a lot of demand, especially in the oil industry and construction sectors, as well as an increasing demand for the use of executive jets for sporting events, such as Dubai’s world-renowned horse-racing.”

IAC says smaller executive jets such as the Learjet series and Cessna Citation are very cost-effective for such travel arrangements.

“If we could persuade more operators to base this type of aircraft in Dubai, we could guarantee to keep them flying,” he added.

“At the moment, we are having a hard time sourcing aircraft to meet demand.”