Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group (EAG) has taken on a factory-new Legacy 650 on behalf of an existing client. The operator will manage the aircraft from its base in Dubai and the jet will be the first of its type to be offered to the Middle Eastern charter market.

Says executive director Paras Dhamecha: “Our aircraft manage-ment services are the core of our regional business and it is gratifying that we continue to build long-term relationships with aircraft owners based on personalised services.

“We are able to tailor our services to owners' preferred business models and with the Legacy 650, we have transitted the owner from private use only to a model including charter, as the demand for larger business jets grows in this sector. This shows the flexibility of the asset management model we operate which ensures we can meet owners' objectives.”

The company will also be adding a Challenger 605 to its global managed fleet, which will be based in Lagos in Nigeria. EAG now manages seven business jets on the African continent and its latest aircraft will join the fleet by the end of this year.

The CL605 has 11 seats and a range of 4,000 nm, with a high cruise speed of Mach 0.8. Executive director Steve Hartley says: “The African market for private aviation is still showing healthy growth and our fleet based in Nigeria now comprises business jets from several manufacturers. Nigeria is our second largest base for managed aircraft, after Dubai.

“This latest new aircraft to join our managed fleet came to us via referral from an existing owner, which is always gratifying.”

Launched in 2007, EAG operates a total of 27 aircraft from locations including Dubai, Oman, India, San Marino, Hong Kong and Nigeria. It now employs 150 staff and has expanded operations, most recently to San Marino.