GCC needs to step up co-operation to free up business aviation, says Sheikh Ahmed

Sheikh Ahmed made the call as he delivered the keynote address at the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) conference running at Airport Expo Dubai until Thursday night (February 1).

He told delegates: "Middle East business aviation growth has been fuelled by economic success - but as much as being a product of success, business aviation could be a further economic driver. That is, of course, if we give it a helping hand.

"For the sector to further develop, particularly within the GCC, there needs to be greater co-operation among civil aviation authorities towards open skies policies, which will free up the market, increase competition, generate new opportunities - and deliver greater economic success."

His Highness told the conference that the commercial proposition for business aviation in the Middle East has become more compelling as the region makes it mark on the world stage for tourism, international events and global commerce.

"At the last MEBA in 2005, the region's business aviation fleet numbered 250 - it now stands at over 300. In addition, research carried out by the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) states that the region's charter airline business will double over the next five years and account for 40% of the total aviation market in the region.

"Against this background, we have to take into account international trends towards the emergence of heli-taxis and the advent of the very light jet - developments aimed at providing convenient and efficient transportation - aviation on demand. These developments will be enthusiastically taken up in this region."

However Sheikh Ahmed warned that regional business aviation growth also brought with it renewed responsibilities for aviation infrastructure suppliers and civil aviation authorities. "The entire region should take up this challenge," he said. "We have to ensure that the industry has the infrastructure it needs to go forward."

His Highness said Dubai was leading the way in providing world-class facilities for business aviation with a dedicated Executive Jet Centre at Dubai World Central, the urban community taking shape in Jebel Ali some 30 kilometres from Dubai city centre.

Sheikh Ahmed unveiled a model of the centre, which has a design handling capacity of more than 100,000 aircraft movements a year, at the adjoining MEBA exhibition.

Sheikh Ahmed went on to say that regionwide expansion of business aviation will produce both challenges and opportunities for scheduled carriers.

"In meeting the challenge, scheduled carriers will have to excel in premium products, in attractive flight timings, improved flight dispatch, enhanced loyalty programmes and wider route networks.

"In seizing the opportunities, scheduled carriers will have to view business aviation now as competition, but complementary, with ample scope for product development between the two - as in Europe. Business aviation most links destinations that scheduled carriers cannot serve - it is mostly a short haul business with only nine per cent of flights being 2,000 kilometres or more. There is demand, as the West has shown, for commercial and business operators to work together.

"The complementary/competitive scenario will create greater opportunities across the aviation segment. We will see the emergence of more business aviation products. Existing operators will launch new services, merge with business aviation suppliers and joint ventures will be the order of the day."

Sheikh Ahmed went on to tour the MEBA exhibition which features 90 exhibitors from 20 countries and 31 aircraft on static park display, including a prototype of the turboprop Kestrel - which is intended to be the first business aircraft to be manufactured in the GCC.

Meanwhile MEBA, which has been organised by Fairs & Exhibitions, the name behind the Dubai air show, on behalf of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), has seen announcements in its first 24 hours totalling some US $302 million including a US $250 million deal - the region's biggest jet agreement from Saudi charter business and Netjets affiliate, National Air Services (NAS) - for 20 Hawker 750 aircraft from Raytheon Aircraft Company.