Sparfell, a specialist in aircraft charter, management and trading headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and operating under Austrian, French and San Marino AOCs, has formed a partnership with Bahrain's MENA Aerospace Enterprises. MENA has long been associated with private jets and business aviation services, and it is now experiencing a post-pandemic resurgence in those business lines, thanks to its links with Sparfell. The agreement encompasses aircraft and passenger handling supervision services, aircraft hangarage and charter services.

Through its various divisions, the MENA Aerospace Enterprises group will provide private general aviation hangar space, spare parts and consumables, frontline service, third party ground handling, flight supervision, dispatch and pilots.

Bernhard Wipfler, MD of Sparfell, says: “We at Sparfell are immensely proud of our ongoing and fruitful partnership with MENA in Bahrain. The Middle Eastern markets are increasingly significant in global private aviation terms. Our priority is to put our clients' needs and wants first in everything we do, and through this partnership we are assured that our extremely high standards are being seamlessly met throughout our network.”

Since the cooperation began earlier this year, MENA Aerospace Enterprises has witnessed a 30 per cent jump in passenger handling for private jets at Bahrain International airport.

Mohamed Juman, MENA Aerospace Enterprise's founder and MD, explains: “We have adapted our model to reflect shifting customer preferences. Previously, we acted as an AOC for business jets in Bahrain, serving the local region. Our new partnership with Sparfell allows us to change the game. We have observed an emerging preference for European AOCs. Among the clients whose aircraft we host, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of individuals who want their AOC based in the Middle East. Sparfell will be hosting the aircraft in Austria, while we take care of everything in this region.

“Meanwhile, we are pursuing an AOC that allows us to fly within Saudi Arabia, so we may move charters around that market. We also encourage everyone to watch this space, as we have big expansion goals for our private jet business in 2022.”