Prestige Holding's "act local, think global" business strategy will accelerate this year as it develops its Spanish operation, Middle East FBO network and flight ambulance services alongside the continued expansion of its Abu Dhabi headquartered charter fleet.

The company has acquired the Madrid-based Flylink Express Aviation Management and rebranded it as Prestige Jet Spain. "This makes us the first Arabian operator in Europe," says Faris Deeb, vice chairman of Prestige Holding, the umbrella company for the subsidiaries - Prestige Jet, Prestige Jet Technique/Duncan Aviation, Prestige Flight Support, Prestige Flight Ambulance, Prestige Jet Brokerage Services and Prestige Invest.

Jose Fernandes, gm Prestige Jet Spain, says: "I hope that Spain is going to be the launch pad to other European and international markets. Prestige has become a key player in the Middle East market in a short span of time and has been a leading innovator in private jet travel. I believe that the company has a significant level of demand that will promote a very healthy business in Europe."

He expects Prestige Jet's strategic flight operations location, industry capabilities and resources to continue to facilitate fast-growing business. Deeb says: "The acquisition of the company allows us to effectively meet customer demand with a core base on the European continent. It offers us a network of major Spanish and European air brokers. We intend to take full advantage of this new launch pad."

He adds: "This strategic move enhances our rapidly-growing offering and also gives us access to the American continent and is in line with our stated strategy of investing in jet aviation services. We've been acting locally, and thinking globally, and it is paying off." HE Gaith Ben Hamel Al-Gaith, chairman of Prestige Holding, says the development of three new FBOs in Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain are at advanced stages. "Prestige will become the first multi-based Arabian private jet operator. We now have received our AOC in Qatar."

He adds: "We have enjoyed exceptional growth with the utilisation of our 11-strong multi-functional fleet running at an average 40 per cent above target. It is not the end of our story but the beginning." He pledged: "We will keep investing in expanding our fleet and services. It seems like only yesterday when it all started in May 2007 with our first jet taking off on its first flight. Today we operate 11 jets and we have signed a Letter of Intent for five G650s. We will also be operating the world's very first Lineage 1000.

Yousuf Al-Ghareeb, Prestige Holding bdm, says the winning of the tender from Abu Dhabi's General Health Authority was an important milestone. "Prestige Flight Ambulance International (PFAI) operates aircraft that can offer the equivalent of an on-board intensive care unit and are staffed from a pool of highly experienced paramedics who are permanently in practice," he says. "I am pleased to announce that we are equipping one of our Challenger 604s to become our dedicated medical evacuation and repatriation jet out of Al-Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi. This will enable us to have longer direct flights and allow more family members to accompany patients on the plane.

"Our vision is for a worldwide air ambulance service, transporting patients between Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and any other desired destination in the world." He adds: "The company's craft and crew operate to international standards and work closely with individual patients' own physicians, who often accompany the patient on board the flight. It also provides a female crew when needed."

Deeb reports that demand for air ambulance services comes from the private sector, government, the military and private hospitals. "In 2008 we were tasked with more than 45 medical evacuation missions that included critical cases, from the health ministry, local health authorities and private medical hospitals, with a 100 per cent success rate."

Prestige Flight Ambulance expects a growth of 60 per cent through providing dedicated air ambulance jets. "The Challenger 604 and the Lear 55 will facilitate a worldwide bedside-to-bedside service on a personal handling basis, without restrictions, 24-7," Deeb predicts.

Ali Al Naqbi, founding chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), says Prestige's Qatar AOC is timely. He adds: "Massive Middle East growth is predicted over the next five years. We think the regional business aviation market will be worth $1 billion by 2012. The development of the market in Qatar in order to capitalise on this potential is now a major focus."

Deeb says Qatar's flourishing natural gas industry is a driving factor in spurring interest in aviation-on-demand. "Despite uncertain global economic conditions, the Middle East's resilient business aviation sector continues to fly ahead."