Air Charter industry witness strong rebound in Emerging Markets

Charter service providers in the Middle East region are especially at an advantage as the regional business and socio-economic interactions with the countries in the Emerging Markets are increasing on a day-to-day basis.

Hugh Courtenay, Chief Executive, International Air Charter plc, says, "Air Charter industry in the emerging markets is at a threshold. With India, China and a number of countries in the CIS and Africa growing at a dramatic pace, doing business with these countries and in them is becoming attractive for regional and global businesses. Although there is excellent connectivity to these regions, there is always an issue of capacity and airlines are struggling to cope with the demand. Latch on to that the vast geographies of these regions, it becomes imperative that businesses depend on air charter as the only viable and cost effective option for executive and corporate travel."

With growth rates averaging at 8 - 10 per cent across the region, and the global ambitions of local businesses, there has been a corresponding increase in business and executive travel. In Africa, the charter industry is intrusively linked to tourism, disaster relief and humanitarian operations, painting a modest picture or completely ignoring the growing strength of executive air charter. North, Central and South Africa has seen a considerable increase in the number of executive air travellers by around 25 per cent. Indian Air Charter market is still in its nascence and by far the biggest prospect in South Asia. Presently there are around 150 helicopters and 60 aircraft in operation and the industry grew 40 per cent in 2005, a huge majority of which was directly related executive air travel. Eastern European countries, which are designated as Emerging Markets are the stellar performers in executive air charter with an impressive increase of some 50 per cent mainly travelling to leading business hubs in Middle East such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

"For the Middle Eastern business traveller who wish to travel to these regions there are a whole host of logistics that need to be addressed, including important factors like ground handling, over flight permissions, landing permits, visas, insurance, provision of the right aircraft type, price and its availability. As the largest independent private jet charter broker in the world, with access to hundreds of private aircraft from leading manufacturers, International Air Charter can offer unparalleled services to these markets, where we have established extensive contacts and relations to provide almost every conceivable service related to executive travel," says Courtenay.

'The demand is very strong in this area for private aircraft and we have access to about 60 aircraft of various types in the immediate region, although we are able to position in aircraft from neighbouring countries and even utilise 'visiting' European aircraft that may be sitting on the ground mid-charter for a few days. We are currently, in negotiation with several corporate clients, who are considering buying aircraft such as the Challenger 604 and Gulfstream aircraft, with a view to basing them here in the Middle East, and these aircraft will be available for ad-hoc charter.'

"IAC is perhaps one of the few independent brokers that can provide service in these hard to access yet important markets," he continues. "Our position in the region and our quick and reliable service provides us with the distinct advantage to cater to the growing regional demand for affordable executive travel to these regions."