UAE headquartered Royal Jet has signed a deal that will see the first aircraft join its recently launched aircraft management division. The Avro RJ85, managed for a vip client, will increase the Royal Jet fleet to nine and be used for hunting trips.

H.E. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, chairman, says: "The recent addition of the aircraft management division is an important aspect of our business expansion plan."

The RJ85 is a premier short haul jet that provides a highly competitive option that will appeal to the middle range segment, he adds. It can carry 42 passengers in a one class cabin configuration.

Ammar Balkar, vp sales and marketing, says: "The RJ85 is an excellent option for short haul flights as it has a range of 1,700 n.m. The large passenger capacity is an ideal option for tour operators and travel agents that need to buy blocks of seats for group and corporate travellers such as during Haj and Omra seasons.

"The RJ85 is popular and widely utilised for hunting trips. Due to the low environmental impact the aircraft is capable of landing in sensitive city centre airports and can even access remote, poorly equipped airfields with short strips or unpaved runways. These options allow us to offer a wider range of destinations to our

clients, and improve our service both inbound and outbound to the UAE."

Royal Jet's existing fleet includes a medevac Learjet, two Gulfstream G300, four Boeing Business Jets and the Agusta Bell AB139.

Launched in May 2003, Royal Jet is wholly-owned by the UAE government and also operates Royal Med, its air ambulance division.