Eastern SkyJets, based in Dubai, is an approved supplier to the United Nations and flies under its own UAE AOC. "There are three aspects to the Eastern SkyJets' strategy that have proved appealing to the marketplace," says Tahir Khan, sales and marketing director. "There is a low risk business model which enables the company to keep its costs and therefore its prices low. Secondly, the hands-on approach of the company's owner/managers means their significant industry experience is directly applied to meeting each and every customers' requirements. Thirdly, there is a fleet mix which enables the company to meet cost effectively its customers' passenger, cargo and medevac requirements."

The bulk of Eastern SkyJets' business is currently with corporate customers. But it is anticipated that with the growth in tourist traffic, the demand for leisure and other specialised services such as medevac will continue to rise. Two aircraft are currently UAE registered and operated under Eastern SkyJets AOC. These are both based in Dubai and are a DC-9 with a capacity of 131 seats in a mixed configuration and a Jetstream 41 with 29 seats in an executive configuration. Two additional DC-9s will be joining the fleet - one in the last quarter of 2007 and the other during the first quarter of 2008.

"The company is in negotiations for additional aircraft in the mid-size range as well as a cargo variant. Discussions are also ongoing with the possibility of corporate aircraft under management," says Khan.

The bulk of current business is short to medium haul and this is dominated by corporate customers. "While the company's present focus remains on the Gulf region, long haul flights to Europe are being evaluated with our aircraft being fully JAR-OPS compliant and able to conduct these missions," says Khan. The company, he says, has successfully served a number of medevac customers with its corporate aircraft. "This capability has been extended with the use of our Jetstream 41 aircraft which is able to carry several stretchers and associated family members in a much more cost-effective manner. While this service is primarily aimed at the regional market, the fully JAR-OPS compliant Jetstream aircraft is able to transport patients to any point in Europe depending on how critical the situation is."

Eastern SkyJets has developed a reputation for being a highly skilled operator familiar with the difficulties of flying into areas such as Afghanistan and Iraq. "We do know how to organise and conduct civilian operations into hostile environments," says Khan. In addition he says that Eastern SkyJets finds the VLJ market a very exciting one which has significant potential for linking customers with the growing business and leisure centres throughout the region.