Saudi Arabia’s National Air Services (NAS) has signed a letter of intent with Gulfstream Aerospace to order three mid-range G350s. The company already operates three G300s, which were ordered less than two years ago, and three GIV/GIV-SP models.

As well as providing aircraft charter, management, operations support and project management services, NAS is the Middle East representative of NetJets, offering fractional ownership and leasing.

“This purchase is the latest in a series of transactions between our two organisations,” said NAS president and ceo Mohammed Al Zeer, “and considering the ongoing exponential rate of growth we are experiencing, I have no doubt that we will be securing further Gulfstream aircraft in the very near future for our NetJets Middle East fleet.”

The company, which is the only licensed private aircraft operator in Saudi Arabia, is planning to launch a scheduled vip shuttle service between Riyadh and Jeddah, coupled with ad hoc charter services throughout the Middle East and surrounding areas.

“We are committed to the long-term success of NAS in the Middle East region,” commented Gulfstream president Bryan Moss.

“We know the G350 will meet the air transportation needs for NAS’ clients and are confident that these three aircraft will quickly become the hardest working aeroplanes in the expanding NAS fleet.”

The letter of intent states that the 14-passenger G350s are scheduled for delivery in 2007, and that the finance for the aircraft will most likely come from Bahrain’s Arab Banking Corporation, guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The G350 received EASA certification in March and the first aircraft is scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of this year.