Air charter company targets Middle East travel trade with participation at ATM

The company has seen a surge in demand in intra-GCC travel and will use its participation at ATM to leverage this message among the Middle East travel industry. ATM will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, from May 4 to 7, 2004.

With a global network of operations, International Air Charter provides total service to its customers by sourcing a variety of aircraft, from executive and VIP jets to corporate airliners for larger groups, from its fleet database of over 45,000 aircraft. The company has offices in major business hubs across the world, including New York, Nice, Frankfurt, Padova (Italy) and Dubai.

Building on the significant growth in air charter business in the region, we are participating at ATM to raise awareness of our service and familiarise local companies with the distinctive advantages of charter air travel over commercial flights," stated Hugh Courtenay, Chief Executive, International Air Charter plc. "Our key focus would be on intra-GCC travel, which we believe is a potential growth market for the air charter business in the region. Business groups wishing to conduct a series of back-to-back meetings in different GCC states can enjoy a real value proposition by chartering an aircraft, instead of being subjected to regular scheduled flights".

International Air Charter's participation comes close on the heels of its successful involvement in the Formula One Race in Bahrain earlier this month. Renault, the French automobile company, used its services to fly down 45 VIPs from Dubai on a leisure/business trip to Bahrain.

"With changing perceptions about chartered air travel, we have seen a tremendous growth in business in 2003, and expect between 30 to 40 percent increase in 2004. It is a very safe and practical way to travel, especially to multiple or remote destinations, a view that is being shared by an increasing number of businesses in the Middle East," said Courtenay.

"The dynamic business environment in the Gulf has created a need for air charter services. We feel this is the right time to consolidate our strengths and expand our market. Dubai is certainly the right place to increase our services, as it has emerged as the hub of business and tourism," he continued.

Air charter services are most in demand among corporate travellers who need to travel quickly from one location to another. Air charter offers unbeatable flexibility, allowing business travellers to move at there own pace, without the inconvenience of waiting for connecting flights or danger of delays. Additionally International Air Charter can offer their customers privileged services such as VIP Terminals, and even aircraft branding.

Being an independent air charter broker, International Air Charter can source aircraft at short notice from a large number of suppliers. Customers can expect cost-effective solutions because the company is able to source an aircraft closest to the location of the client. Aircraft in the company's database include Boeing Business Jets, Global Expresses, Falcons, Gulfstreams, Challengers, Cessna Citations and Lear Jets.

"A key message we would like to convey at ATM is our ability to offer exceptional value," said Courtenay. "The travel trade will be surprised at the benefits and privileges chartered air travel offers, which can be translated directly into a business advantage.'

International Air Charter plc is a member of several leading aviation associations, including the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA), National Business Aircraft Association (NBAAA), associate member of Incentive Travel and Meetings Associations (ITMA) and supplier member of Institute of Travel Management (ITM). The company has also achieved internationally recognized ISO 9002 certification for 'the supply of business and executive aircraft for charter'.