Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group adds new Hawker business jet to growing aircraft fleet

The company has just taken delivery of a second Hawker 800XP jet aircraft, joining EAG's first Hawker which started operating in mid December 2007 under EAG management, logging over 50 hours in its first month of operation. Both aircraft were sold and taken under management by EAG on behalf of private owners, operating out of the executive terminal at Dubai International Airport.

Empire Aviation Group is Hawker Beechcraft Corporation's (HBC) authorised and exclusive distributor for the UAE, in addition to several countries in the region. HBC is the world's leading manufacturer of business aircraft.

In EAG's sales pipeline are a further three Hawker business jets, which EAG has sold to private buyers in the region, and which will join the EAG managed fleet of aircraft; the fleet is expected to reach a total of seven aircraft by the end of 2008. In addition to the Hawkers, EAG also operates a Falcon 900EX Easy and will take delivery of a Challenger 604, Hawker 850 XP, Gulfstream G3 business jet and Embraer Legacy 600 by the end of the first quarter 2008.

Empire Aviation Group CEO, Paras P. Dhamecha, says: "Empire Aviation Group has made a very strong start in the private aviation sector bringing to the region our distinctive one-stop-shop approach, which offers a comprehensive range of aviation services, from aircraft sales, management, operations, charter, finance and insurance. We offer a business asset management approach to the market for the serious private aircraft owner, whether corporate or private individual.

"Our aircraft sales pipeline is very healthy with a strong order book of Hawker business jets, which are well suited to the needs of the region and all of which will be managed and operated by EAG. Sales and charter demand is growing in the region, driven by the Middle East's booming economies and the increasingly cross border nature of the business that is being conducted across the region. Our first month of charter operations exceeded all our expectations, with demand arising from
international brokers as well as from within the region."

Empire Aviation Group offers a broad portfolio of aviation services, including Aircraft Sales, Aircraft Charter, Air Ambulance Services,
Aircraft Management, Aircraft financing and Insurance. EAG was launched in July 2007 to meet the increasing demand for private aviation within the region. Empire Aviation group was awarded an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) by the GCAA in the UAE in November 2007, when flight operations began with two privately managed business jets - a Falcon 900EX Easy and a Hawker 850XP.