Embraer to set up service unit in UAE

Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil: Brazilian planemaker Embraer will set up a regional service and maintenance facility for executive jets in the UAE as the company targets the Gulf's growing business aviation sector.

Embraer is in talks with potential local partners for the centre that will serve the company's clients across the Middle East.

"The facility will be set up either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. We are in talks with potential joint venture partners," Claudio Camelier, vice-president of market intelligence for the executive jets division, told Gulf News. He said the UAE venture will be launched by the end of this year.

The company at present has ten of its Legacy business aircraft in operation in the Middle East, but wants to push several new products in the market.

The UAE service centre is one of several such facilities being planned by Embraer in various countries.

Growth

Camelier said the Middle East is one of the fast growing "non-traditional" business jet markets.

At present, the bulk of Embraer's executive planes are supplied to customers in North America.

Since 2004, deliveries of business jets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East have growth at an average annual rate of 30 per cent, Camelier said. The demand is seen coming from both corporate clients and charter service operators.

Charter operators in Europe, Africa and the Middle East have reported between 25 and 30 per cent increase in executive flight movements in the last two years, according to Embraer.