Royal Jet (ICAO: ROJ) the private / corporate aircraft operator, based in Abu Dhabi, stated its intention to acquire 10 to 12 wide body corporate aircraft in the coming 3 years.Royal Jet’s Vice-President, Commercial, Fahad Wali told
local media in the UAE on the 15/9/2011 “We intend to buy 10 - if not 12 – aircraft by 2015 and most of them would be Boeing because our existing fleet is mainly Boeing luxury jets. Since we already have Boeing executive jets, it makes business sense to buy Boeing… we could think of other jets also.”
Wali added “Saudi Arabia is the region’s largest business jet market and also highest growth potential for in the region”. Royal Jet’s business in Saudi Arabia increased 15 per cent in 2010 continuing its partnership with Saudi-based ARABASCO – the Fixed Based Operations (FBO) and maintenance facility provider in the Kingdom. Wali referred Royal Jet contemplates establishing offices in China and some European counties in the future.
In retrospect, Comlux Aviation Group, CEO Richard Gaona, Royal Jet main competitor in the region who early this year forged a strategic alliance with Saudia Private Aviation (fully owned subsidiary of Saudi Airlines). In an interview with arabaviation.com on June 10th 2011, Gaona stated Comlux’s hub in Bahrain with its proximity to Saudi Arabia, could extend SPA’s global reach with plans to place the Falcons on the European market, complementing Comlux’s existing fleet of mainly Airbuses and Bombardiers, and minimizing “empty legs” that kills business and “covers most of the end user’s flight requirements. Comlux Aviation Group is the largest Airbus Corporate aircraft worldwide.
Frost and Sullivan earlier predicted. The expected number of business jets to be delivered in the Middle East will be approximately 458 by 2018 and the number of jets expected to be delivered in Saudi Arabia alone will be about 154.
About Royal Jet:
Jointly owned by Abu Dhabi Aviation (50%), and the Presidential Flight Authority – Amiri Flight (50%).
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan is Royal Jet Chairman of the Board of Directors, who holds a Ministerial position in the UAE Federal Cabinet.
The company's core offerings are: VIP aircraft charter, medical evacuation services, charter brokerage, Fixed Base Operations (FBO)/VIP terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, aircraft management and acquisition consultancy.
Royal Jet Current Fleet:
• 6 x Boeing 737 BBJ1
• 2 x Gulfstream G300
• 1 x Gulfstream G-IVSP
• 1 x Learjet 60
• 1 x Embraer Lineage 1000