Airbus sets up new Middle East operations company

Habib Fekih, currently CEO of Dubai based Total Airline Services Company (TASC), has been appointed President of Airbus Middle East.

Airbus Middle East will cover GCC countries, as well as Yemen, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It is the fourth such subsidiary Airbus has established, following those based in the United States, China and Japan, and its creation underlines the region's global importance to Airbus as an aviation market.

Airbus is also establishing a new spare parts centre for the Middle East, adding to its worldwide network of spares, training and technical-support teams.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) commented on Airbus' opening of the local headquarters at DAFZA,

"We are glad with the decision of Airbus to set up one of its main subsidiaries in Dubai Airport Free Zone. This step no doubt reflects the growth regional markets are enjoying in this industry".

He added that DAFZA, with its strategic location within the boundaries of Dubai International Airport, represents an excellent platform for the aviation based activities. "I would also like to assure that we will lend full support to Airbus in all of their operations and activities at DAFZA."

"With traffic predicted to be multiplied by four over the next 20 years, the Middle East is one of the fastest developing regions in the world", says Airbus president and CEO Gustav Humbert. "We have a long-standing relationship with all airlines of the regions and we are very proud of the role our products have played in the development of these fast growing carriers, being in most cases the cornerstone of their fleet expansions and modernisations. The trust and confidence these carriers have placed in Airbus leads us today to further expand our presence in the region. Our objective in doing so is to even better serve our valued customers and be in an even better position to give them full satisfaction, which is our top priority", he added.

The spares centre, for which work has already begun at Dubai Airport Free Zone, is due to become operational in April 2007. The spares centre will stock parts made by Airbus and major-equipment suppliers, and will be built on a 5,100 sq m site. It will have direct access to the airport apron for maximum speed and efficiency. Dubai is one of the world's most modern and fastest-growing airports, serving more than 90 airlines flying to more than 136 destinations worldwide, and hence an ideal location for such an additional spares centre.

The company's worldwide support network already includes spare centres in Beijing, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Singapore and near Washington DC, plus training centres in Beijing, Miami and Toulouse. It also includes more than130 field service teams around the world.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.