Royal Jet reports a record performance for the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2006 with charter flight demand achieving double-digit growth. It says year-on-year the number of aircraft served at Royal Jet's FBO in Abu Dhabi grew by 90 per cent. "In addition, 32 new charter customers were signed up in the year to July 2007," says Shane O'Hare, president and ceo.

"We are on track for a solid performance this year and a budgeted 25% year-on-year annual growth," said O'Hare. "We are laying solid foundations for the future with research by international strategy consultant Roland Berger defining us as the Middle East's undisputed private charter leader with a 16 per cent market share."

He adds: "Part of the growth in numbers at our FBO facility is due to the remarkable increase in visitors to Abu Dhabi as a gateway to the UAE, and in this sector our revenue has risen by 68 per cent over the same period last year. And with higher yields and better fleet utilisation, our revenue for charter hours flown has increased by 28 per cent over that same period."