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Headlines - September - October 2003
 

	Chapman Freeborn to open dedicated Cargo Sales office
	Royal Jet to add two more aircraft
	SNTTA commences aviation services
	Executive Aviation emerges as a key growth sector in the Middle East
	Air Charter International – Extend Your Reach

Sharjah _____________________

Chapman Freeborn to open dedicated Cargo Sales office

Chapman Freeborn Group, the leaders in aircraft charter broker services, is to open a dedicated office for its Cargo Sales & Service organization (GSA) known as Air Logistics Group, ALG. The new office will now be opened under the same roof of Chapman Freeborn Aviation Services FZE, which will be using the existence of DXB FLC office similar to CFA. This will ensure constant knowledge exchange in Air Chartering and Cargo Logistics, all under one roof.

"Dubai, as our new office, is strategically situated as a gateway to the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. This enables us in offering more value-added services to our clients," said Helmut Mair, Managing Director of Air Logistics Group.

Chapman has nearly 50 offices spread across 19 countries worldwide, which operates as a privately owned and totally independent force - aiding airlines with back up aircraft, supporting both government and non-government organizations around the globe. 

"All our offices globally have benefited significantly due to our presence in the UAE. Our expansion is the result of the importance it purports to the group of UAE offices and the air charter possibilities available in this region," said Russi Batliwala, Director of Chapman Freeborn. 

The Air Logistics Group runs 42 offices in 20 countries worldwide and is the world's largest privately owned Cargo Sales and Service partner to the airline industry. Recently, Air Logistics Group’s UK division was announced as the first officially IATA recognized General Sales Agent, a new program launched by IATA.

"Air Logistics Group can look proudly at a portfolio of airlines such as Gulf-based carriers such as Emirates (represented in Eastern Europe), Kuwait Airways (represented in
France) and Qatar Airways (represented in Germany, Switzerland and Spain), to name a few," said Helmut Mair, the Managing Director of the Air Logistics Group. 

"The merger of the best Air Charter Specialist with Air Logistics Group as one of the best Air Cargo Logistics specialist, globally, it will definitely bring to the Gulf a new definition of unprecedented integrated services, which has under a single umbrella the "Ultimate Global Survey" of all cost-effective solutions within a very short period of time," states Mazen Shaheen, General Manager of Chapman, UAE. 

Chapman recently launched its Chapman Freeborn Air Services office in Dubai, which is based at Dubai International Airport's Freezone Logistics Centre (FLC). The new office is aimed at meeting the increasing demands of the passenger and cargo charter flights.

Royal Jet to add two more aircraft

Royal Jet, the Abu Dhabi-based premier private jet charter service, plans to acquire two more aircraft by 2005. Royal Jet is also planning for more agreements with airlines after the success of the recent Gulf Air operation between Abu Dhabi and Geneva. 
Royal Jet announced the arrival of the third aircraft, a new Gulfstream. The airline received its first aircraft, the BBJ, last May and its first Gulfstream in August. Currently, 60 per cent of flights cater to passengers and the remaining 40 per cent are medical evacuation flights.

Royal Jet is also in the process of finalizing a number of block charter agreements ranging from 100 to 300 hours per year with several high-end travel agents and individual customers.
 

SNTTA commences aviation services

Harnessing the in-house resources of SNTTA Cargo and SNTTA Freight & Logistics, the SNTTA Group has launched the ‘SNTTA Aviation Services’ recently. This new service was established keeping in line with the Group’s goal of providing a complete ‘One-stop Shop Solution’ to its customers, thus providing aircraft charter and leasing services worldwide.

"Whether it is a passenger charter, an executive jet requirement or an oilfield equipment to be moved urgently on a freighter, our charter transportation professionals can quickly and easily recommend and locate the aircraft that best serves your requirements," said Salim Gulam, Manager – International Freight & Charters of SNTTA. "Manned by charter specialists, SNTTA 

Aviation Services has an excellent operator and broker network worldwide, with access from the smallest (1 ton) to the largest (250 tons) Western and Russian freighter aircrafts, passenger aircraft (40-400 passengers) and executive business jets (2-50 executives), tapping empty legs, we can arrange for the best charter option for your load within a short time," adds Gulam.

The cargo charter services include handling urgent shipments; outsize and heavy cargo; relief and aid cargo; high value and dangerous goods; aircraft on ground (AOG); and livestock / perishables. In the passenger and executive jet charter services, SNTTA Aviation Services offers a range of corporate airliners for larger groups for meetings, corporate events, product launches etc. This provides access to large passenger aircraft from world famous airlines and the latest wide body luxury jets from Challenger, Gulf Stream and Falcon series to the longest range VIP Boeing Business Jet, with flexibility for customers to choose their own aircraft, airport, itinerary etc. 

"In the line of aircraft leasing, whether your requirement is wet lease (ACMI) or dry lease, in consultation with industry experts we will walk you through all aspects of aircraft lease, operating costs, flight operations, crew management, etc. We will look at your long and short term cargo or passenger requirements, scope of business, target sectors etc. and then recommend the best possible aircraft to do the job," stated Gulam further adding, "Using our existing contacts with the world’s leading providers of aircraft for lease or lease cum purchases, we can arrange and further source financed leasing solutions for the same."

As GSA’s for some of the world’s major international airlines, SNTTA supports its customer airlines in case of emergencies like damaged aircraft and delayed maintenance by arranging immediately for spare aircraft for last minute crew movements, passenger movements, or freighter aircraft for immediate AOG requirements, SNTTA Aviation Services works closely with the airlines at the time of their needs.

Apart from these activities, SNTTA Aviation Services also offers related services of over-flight and landing clearances, aircraft handling and fuelling worldwide, and computerized flight plans, crew accommodation and transportation etc.
Dubai

Executive Aviation emerges as a key growth sector in the Middle East 
Region develops position within US$136 billion Global Business Jet market

The market for small and medium-sized business jets in the Middle East continues to expand at a rapid pace, emerging as a key growth area in the region’s aviation sector. A number of structural factors in the Gulf including the lack of viable surface transport options, rising demand for greater security in aviation and growing awareness of the productivity benefits of deploying executive jets has driven market growth by as much as 22% in the recent months. 

Organizations hosting VIPs from outside the Middle East for meetings in multiple locations, and companies that regularly conduct business at a number of sites are among the main groups currently investigating options for chartering or purchasing business jets. 

One reaction to this rising demand has been the emergence of a number of new charter executive Jet suppliers in the summer of 2003, including the launch of companies in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City and Bahrain. Industry experts have noted that this expansion of the market – accompanied by the growth of associated support and services – suggests that the Middle East’s executive aviation market is maturing at a rapid rate. 
"The executive aviation sector in the Middle East has really picked up the pace in recent months, to the point where it’s gaining the attention of interested companies around the world," said Horm Irani, Managing Director, ExecuJet Middle East. "As a company that provides a full range of total aviation solutions including aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales and aviation consulting, we’re encountering increased interest in all areas of our operations, reinforcing our belief that the region’s business aviation sector is really taking off."
Avionics giant Honeywell recently released figures suggesting that the total global value of business jet sales will be worth around $136 billion between now and 2011. When combined with revenue generated by charter services, aviation consulting, maintenance and aircraft services, the overall market size adds up to a highly valuable segment, and one in which the Middle East could emerge as a key territory. 
"ExecuJet is in a privileged position to judge the development of the executive aviation market, partly because we’re one of the longest-established companies in this sector, and also because we operate across the entire region, serving a total of 10 countries," added Irani. "From our perspective, this is probably the most exciting time we’ve ever witnessed in this region primarily because of the confluence of passenger interest and available providers, and we’re confident that the Middle East will emerge as a key territory over the next two years."
ExecuJet Middle East is the first independent business aviation service provider to have received an air operators’ certificate from the UAE Civil Aviation Authority. It provides a total set of aviation services associated with the sale, operation, management, charter and support of modern high-technology business jets in the Middle East.

Air Charter International – Extend Your Reach 

Air Charter International, which specializes in aircraft wet leases, charters and executive jets in the Middle East, CIS, Africa and Asia/Pacific region, has recently welcomed Nigel Moore as its new General Manager. Moore brings his 20 years of experience in the transport sector to bear, on spearheading the company’s drive for new business in aircraft wet leasing and charters. Aside from recently concluded 

cargo charters into Iran and Iraq, Moore has already fixed the long-term lease of two transport helicopters and is aiming to supply other specialist aircraft in the region.

Coincidently Francis Doray, an experienced airline-leasing manager, was appointed as Regional Sales Manager - Asia and also Manager of Air Charter International, Singapore. This represents a gearing up of Air Charter International’s long-term commitment to Asia and will provide Asian clients with a local interface in their own time zone. 

Headquartered in Dubai, with offices in Singapore and Sofia, Air Charter International was established by Stuart Wheeler who pioneered aircraft broking in the Middle East after a long career in the international airline and aircraft manufacturing business. Air Charter International recognizes the importance of both clients and aircraft operators and has structured the company to support both sides of the business. This includes the imminent launch of Skysearch - an online system that allows operators to update their fleet and availability and for clients to make enquires and manage their information through the system. 

Since 1994, Air Charter International has developed its core business of wet leasing and aircraft charters that have included everything from perishable and outsize goods, to a variety of exotic animals and humanitarian relief. The provision of executive jets and light passenger aircraft is another hallmark of the company. In 2002, Air Charters’ activities resulted in over 5,000 hours of aircraft operations and this is expected to double by next year.

"Air Charter International has extremely close and long-term relationships with a number of cargo, passenger and executive airlines. We have similar close relations with our key clients for whom we source a wide range of aviation solutions. Of particular pride is our operational support that has gained a reputation for excellence from operators and clients alike," said Stuart Wheeler, Managing Director of Air Charter International.

With the rapid growth of Dubai and the Gulf as a global trading centre, Air Charter International anticipates increasing demand for its aviation services throughout the region. For aircraft operators and users wishing to ‘extend their reach’, then Air Charter International has the systems and the answers.