Business | Aviation

Elite Jets to strengthen its fleet

Dubai-based Elite Jets is to add two more Ray-theon aircraft to its fleet, to meet the growing demand for executive travel, said a top official.

  • By Saifur Rahman, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 November 21, 2005
  • Gulf News

Dubai-based Elite Jets is to add two more Ray-theon aircraft to its fleet, to meet the growing demand for executive travel, said a top official.

Dubai Air Show
"We are witnessing a strong demand for additional capacity that is behind the reason for adding new aircraft to the fleet," Paras P. Dhamecha, chief executive officer of Elite Jets, told Gulf News.

"We are now increasing Hawker 1000 fleet."

The company, one of the late starters to join the region's growing business jet market, is marking its first anniversary at the airshow. It was set up last year by South African National Airways Corp. and JML Investments, a Dubai-based group.

"First time we are going to be represented at the Airshow, showcase Ray-theon aircraft," he said.

"We have 15 clients in the region. Two or three are in the financing stage.

"We are currently billing 70 flying hours a month, which is a healthy position in our business. We breakeven at about half of that mark."

Dhamecha said, his company might set up a fixed base operation (FBO) at the Jebel Ali Airport in the long run.

Business Aviation market growing at 20 to 25 per cent in the Middle East, he said.

Meanwhile, Sean McGeough, Raytheon's vice-president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Gulf News in an interview recently, "We are looking forward to an excellent Dubai Air Show and will be joined in our chalet by our partners in the region, Elite Jets, Sogerep and Indamer."

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