Abu Dhabi headquartered Royal Jet, chaired by HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, has taken delivery of a Learjet 60.

President and ceo Shane O'Hare says it will join Royal Jet's managed aircraft programme. "The addition of the Lear 60 supports the company's second five year plan which sees the amount of aircraft in our fleet expanding to around 24," he adds. The plan calls for Royal Jet to achieve a five-fold revenue increase by 2013.

The Lear 60 has seats for a maximum of seven and there is an option, depending on the number of passengers, for a full hot catering service. Capt. Chris Norgill, who will be in charge of the aircraft, says: "The Learjet 60 has a greater range capability than its predecessors allowing it to fly for up to five hours without refuelling."

Royal Jet's growing fleet includes five BBJs, which makes Royal Jet the world's largest single BBJ operator; two G-300s and a G-IVSP, Avro RJ85 premier short-haul jet, a medevac Lear 55 and two twin-engined Lear 35s.

Royal Jet held a special ceremony to celebrated its fifth birthday and made the announcement that it had captured 16 per cent of the region's charter market. "Our client portfolio includes government officials, decision makers, the business and corporate community, sporting and show business celebrities, major event organisers, high end bespoke travel providers, insurance companies, the health care sector and so on," Sheikh Hamdan says. "Abu Dhabi is showing rapid growth and settling its position as a prime business and tourism hub, which will have a major impact on the fortunes of the international aviation market," he adds.

O'Hare says: "Last year, the number of aircraft handled at Royal Jet's Abu Dhabi terminal grew by some 90 per cent. And in the last financial year, we contracted over 30 new charter customers. We believe we can keep progressing in the same vein." He adds: "Royal Jet's FBO currently receives around 150 aircraft per month, offering a fast turnaround service, as well as allowing clients a technical stop-over on their way from Asia to America or vice-versa."