30 31

P R I VAT E P L A N E S

31

Despite what you might hear in the news, the private aviation business is flourishing in the Middle East. According to

the CEO of DWC Aviation City in Dubai, Abdullah Al Quraishi, executive jet flights inDubai have increased by 30% in the last three years (up to 2008) – with nearly 9,000 private jet flights in and out of Dubai International Airport in 2007 alone.

Compared to commercial airlines elsewhere in the world who are being crippled by the price of oil and the slowdown in mass market air travel, Middle Eastern airlines are bucking the trend in general, with Emirates and Etihad Airways respectively still placing large orders with manufacturers, however, it’s the private jet market that is really flying high. With this in mind, the UAE has invested $1.36billion in DWC Aviation City which will incorporate the largest executive jet terminal in the world. This high level of investment gives you some idea of the confidence theUAE has in the sector’s future.

“The movement of small business planes in the Middle East is growing by 18% a year compared with the global average of 10%,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai City of Aviation Corporation – Dubai World Central, Government of Dubai, last year.

It’s no surprise. The region has the perfect conditions for such a market; a high concentration of liquidity, rapidly expanding business markets and a lack of viable transport alternatives. In the Middle East region more than anywhere else in the world, private chartered flights are considered a necessity and notneedless spending. It’s something Royal Jet is taking full advantage of.

30

JOIN THE GEORGINA WILSON-POWELL FINDS OUT WHY PRIVATE JET TRAVEL IS SO POPULAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST FROM ROYAL JET’S VICE PRESIDENT, JOHN MORGAN.

IN THE MIDDLE EAST REGION MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, PRIVATE CHARTERED FLIGHTS ARE CONSIDERED A NECESSITY AND NOT NEEDLESS SPENDING.

P R I VAT E P L A N E S

32

P R I VAT E P L A N E S

33

P R I VAT E P L A N E S

“EACH CLIENT GETS A DIFFERENT FLIGHT, BUT OWNING A JET IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR,” EXPLAINS MORGAN

Royal Jet was launched in 2003 and acts as the commercial branch of the less well known PFA (Presidential Flight Authority). PFA handles the private jet services of the UAE Royal family and their VIPs. Royal Jet is chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Murabak al Nayhan, who sits as a Minister in the UAE Federal Cabinet. Based in Abu Dhabi, Royal Jet will benefit from the $55 million being spenton upgrading its base; the capital’s Al Bateen Executive airport (located close to terminal 2 at Abu Dhabi International Airport), currently at least, the only one of its kind in the region. This investment is in response to what Mohammed Al Bulooki, Vice President at Abu Dhabi Airports Company calls “an increasing demand for the type of facility that we offer.”

Royal Jet has picked up numerous awards including the Middle East’s Leading Private Jet Charter at the Middle East Travel Awards and the World’s Leading Private Jet Charter by the WTA for the last two years running. This level of achievement is something Vice President Commercial John Morgan takes great pride in.

“Our pedigree originates with the PFA, the official flight service of theUAE Royal family. As a result of this noble heritage, we implement the same exacting standards of service – security, safety, professionalism and warmth as well as flexibility, discretionand customisation. All our personnel are highly trained and are at the cutting edge of service delivery and safety. Recruited from various relevant fields,our professionals undergo further in-depth training to ensure our experience on offer is second to none. Royal Jet promises to deliver and excel at meeting the demands of today’s business aviation traveller.”

Used by visiting dignitaries, celebrities, VIPs as well as royalty, Royal Jet is also heavily utilised by the region’s businessmen who recognise that the cost of a private flight can bereimbursed in the value of time and productivity gained by choosing to bypass a commercial route.

“Productivity is a critically important factor in determining the success of virtually all profit generating

organisations,” says Morgan. “Companies recognise that employees have accountable costs per hour and as such, they must try to attain the most reasonable level of productivity they can with those hours.”

The company produced a report to prove this theory, called ‘Time equals money,’ which claims its flyers can recoup 30% intime saved, not checking in, not waiting in

departure lounges, bypassing delays, customs and overnight hotel stays and when explained as such, Royal Jet’s alternative seems both attractive and reasonable.

“Businessmen appreciate easy access to a local airport, the elimination of ticket counters, baggage claim, queues of people, which all leads to a more pleasant and productive means of travel. Our clients arrive less tired not having to battle with traffic and arrive at their meetings much more able to conduct businesseffectively. Royal Jet should be considered a business tool that makes actual, real and accountable contributions to a company.” Morgan explains. “The privacy on one of our planes means the flight can be as productive as working in a normaloffice. There are obviously issues that cannot be addressed in even first class on a commercial flight that can [be] because of the confidentiality of flying privately.”

So in this time of tightening belts and shutting wallets, the fact that Royal Jet is expanding and turning a profit, would suggest that the benefits that it extols do, infact, exist. Last year the company saw a 17% increase in profits and a 21% increasein revenue.

“An aeroplane is just a tool for doing business. Anything that enhances your ability to do business should be welcomed, especially in the current climate,” says Morgan. “Just this year alone – even during the downturn – we are seeing an increase in bookings.”

Not content with this, the airline has also expanded to offer its services into the biggest private jet market in the region, Saudi Arabia, this year.

“Even in such a short period since we forged our alliance with ARABASCO in Saudi Arabia, we have seen substantial growth. We have positioned one of our Boeing Business jets, together with a Gulfstream 300, a full operations team and all the necessary logistics to offer private jet charter there.”

Royal Jet has an extensive list of services that it provides for the discerning business traveller, which most of its clientele are. Just 16% of its clients are government officials,

“EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF FOR OUR GUESTS, INCLUDING LIAISING WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND LOCAL OPERATORS TO EASE THE OVERALL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE,” ASSURES MORGAN.

celebrities, royalty and the like. Which means there’s a large percentage of Middle Eastern individuals already switched on to the savings Morgan promises.

“Private jet travel is totally different from commercial airlines. Everything is taken care of for our guests, including liaising with governmental agencies and local operators to ease the overall travel experience,” assures Morgan.

From luxury transport at either end of your trip, private chefs on board pre-briefed with your preferences to create gourmet fine dining meals to bespokeon board entertainment options and amenities, cabin crew fluent in yourpreferred language and a vast choice of destination airports, far closer to your intended final destination than anycommercial airport can offer, means that a private flight works around you,not the other way around. Royal Jet also take care of all customs and visa paperwork required and (subject to ensuring the safety of the plane and its crew) will fly anywhere in the world.

“Businessmen save so much time with us, there’s no having to fit yourwork schedule around an airline’s or having to travel to a main international hub to get where you want to go. We flyclients all over the world and have the

world’s largest single fleet of BoeingBusiness jets.”

In addition to its own jet fleet, RoyalJet has also diversified into assistinghigh net worth individuals manage their own private planes and brokering potential new sales.

“Unless a private jet can be used constantly, it can be an expensive proposition. Chartering a plane from us ensures that every last detail is taken care of including a bespoke, personalised service. Each client gets a different flight, but owning a jet isbecoming more and more popular,” explains Morgan. “We can manage a client’s aircraft on their behalf, utilising it whilst they are not using it. This provides a win-win situation for both parties, as the owner enjoys reduced costs without compromising safety or quality.”

With the market set to keep growing, Royal Jet looks set to fly sky high and hasan expansion plan to match, including more acquisitions and continuing the upgrading of its services.

“We’re currently refurbishing our Boeing Business jets at a cost of $70 million and are constantly trying to improve our customer experience. Safety, security, confidentiality, privacyand unsurpassed comfort are Royal Jet hallmarks.”

This page: Royal Jet offers each of its guests a

personalised and tailor-made on-board service

to match their tastes and requirements. Right hand page: From left: Royal Jet

removes the usual hassles and time constraints of

airport transfers. Taking a private plane offers visitors a more customised journey.

IMA

GE

S:

RO

YAL

JE

T &

SH

UT

TE

RS

TOC

K.C

OM