Lebanon's Open Sky Aviation, bidding to become the first entry-level business jet charter operator in the Middle East, has ordered two Mustangs. Open Sky ceo Haytham Azhari says: "The Mustang is the perfect aircraft to attract new customers to business aviation. It will be a natural step up for travellers who presently fly scheduled but need better and more flexible access to destinations across the Middle East. Our business customers will be able to make quick one-day business trips to Cairo, Amman and Jeddah while our leisure passengers will appreciate direct flights to the Greek isles, Cyprus, Turkey and Sharm-El-Sheikh." 

Open Sky Aviation will operate the Mustangs from Beirut's Rafic Hariri airport and will focus on demands for trips to and from countries including Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. He says the Mustang is ideally suited to Middle East charter operations. "Its range and interior space make it an ideal choice for regional travel and we are sure it will prove popular with our customers," says Azhari. Beirut is seeing an increase in charter and aircraft handling activity as demand in the Middle East expands.