< PreviousBUSINESS JETS 30 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESS TAKING TO THE SKY IN By Alexander Sophoclis Pieri Touching base with Dassault Aviation and Saudia Private Aviation, AVB explores the latest in business jets trends and the segment’s progress in the Middle East StyleBUSINESS JETS 31 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESSAccording to the latest projec- tions released by market analyst, Mordor Intelligence, the business jet is poised for tremendous growth over the next fi ve years. As part of its Business Jet Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 – 2024) report, the business jet market is expected to reach $19.95bn by 2024 with a CAGR of 1.49%. Other fi ndings by Mordor Intelligence showed that despite North America continuing to serve as a premi- um market for business jet operations, there is higher growth potential in the Middle East & Africa, as well as the Asia-Pacifi c. Mordor Intelligence’s re- port also noted a growing shift towards ultra-long-range jets with ranges over 5,000 Nm. Overall, the report points to a booming future for the major players actively in- volved in this burgeoning segment. One such player is Dassault Aviation who over the last century has fostered a solid reputation with the manufactur- ing of regional, private, and military aircraft. Originally founded as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch back in 1929, the company’s present-day portfolio for private aviation features the world- renowned Falcon family line. Coming off a highly active 2018 year that saw increased traction with its fl agship jet, the Falcon 8X, as well as the launch of the Falcon 6X pro- gramme, Dassault Aviation has high hopes for its success stor y to carr y on in the current year. “The fi rst step of our 2019 strategy is to continue producing and developing high standard aircraft. The Falcon 2000, 900LX and 7X models have their reputa- tions well established. The Falcon 8X fl eet is growing and thanks to its unpar- alleled level of effi ciency and comfort, our fl agship has become the new stand- ard for the market,” comments Carlos Brana, senior vice president of Civil Aircraft at Dassault Aviation. “The second step of our strategy is to continue to improve our customer ser- vice levels. Our acquisition of ExecuJet MRO Services will help us to expand our footprint considerably, especially in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and to ensure the best ownership experience for our customers.” The SVP for Civil Aircraft added the company is also focusing its efforts SPA is able to off er charter fl ights on narrow and wide-body aircraft currently operated by its parent fi rm, Saudia. BUSINESS JETS 32 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESStowards the continued development of the Falcon 6X programme, which was launched in February 2018. Scheduled to enter service sometime in 2022, the aircraft features one of the largest cross-sections available within the market, along with a novel cabin de- sign and the latest generation of Dassault Aviation’s Digital Flight Controls. The aerospace manufacturer is also expected to continue the development of FalconConnect, a new communication service that the company is developing in close collaboration with Honeywell. Sharing his viewpoint on how custom- er demand is evolving within the seg- ment, Brana points out there has been an uptick in the popularity of large-cabin aircraft, particularly in the Middle East and China. Common demands include the need for ample space, along with large baggage holds. In terms of its Middle East portfo- lio, the company reports that roughly one-third of the 75 Falcons based in the region are large-cabin variants. Additionally, large-cabin Falcons account for almost half of new Falcon deliveries. “Although not a new demand, fl exibility is always a signifi cant factor when select- ing an aircraft. The ability for an aircraft to take-off and land at the closest point to the passenger destination is the essence of business aviation,” explains Brana. “The ability for an aircraft to operate at challenging airports with short runways is going to be increasingly appreciated by customers and prospects, especially as the air traffi c at larger airports also increases and leads to more congestion and delays. “Short runway airports like London City, Gstaad and Lugano in Switzerland, and Cannes in France, are typically off- limits to big business jets,” he adds. Switching gears to discuss trends associated with private jet owners in Saudia Arabia and the wider Middle East, AVB touches base with Saudia Private Aviation (SPA), the arm of Saudia Airlines in general aviation. With a sizeable and diverse fl eet that includes a variety of business jets, SPA’s Carlos Brana, Dassault Aviation. Dr Fahad Al Jarboa, Saudia Private Aviation. portfolio includes everything from six-seater regional aircraft such as the Hawker Beechcraft 400XP, to the spa- cious 14-seater Falcon 7X. Additionally, the Jeddah-based com- pany has access to several narrow and wide-body aircraft currently operated by its parent fi rm, Saudia. “Saudia Private Aviation serves big clients like ARAMCO and Royal Saudi Air Force, and provides charter services for big events in Saudia Arabia such as the last ‘Italian Super Cup’ that was hosted in Jeddah Arabia, where we handled both football teams movements,” comments Dr Fahad Al Jarboa, CEO of SPA. “That example is just a glimpse of the recent activities where the list can be longer with hundreds of charters, ground handling, and fl ight support ser- vices provided in 2018.” When asked regarding his viewpoint on the trends currently driving the MENA market, the CEO shares that there is a growing demand amongst customers for narrow-body aircraft over wide-body vari- ants, as well as a preference for both com- mercial and business seat confi guration. Dr Al Jarboa also noted that in addi- tion to the traditional users of business jets, which comprised of individual VIPs and small groups, his company has be- gun to see higher demand for the trans- port of large parties. Examples include the transport of corporate executives, as well as government offi cials. In terms of infl ight expectations, safety and comfort continue to rate high amongst SPA’s clientele, regardless of whether or not the journey is for business or leisure. A key service that is in high de- mand, however, is on-board connectivity. Having a stable and high-bandwidth WiFi on the fl ight is not only necessary in BUSINESS JETS 33 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESS With recent trends, we believe that the market will continue to achieve signifi cant growth supported by KSA Vision 2030.” Dr Fahad Al Jarboa Serving as its fl agship aircraft, Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 8X boasts an impressive range of 6,450 Nm. Spacious cabins and generous luggage holds are in high demand in today’s market. offering premium entertainment content, such as live TV broadcasting, but also al- lows passengers to remain connected to their social lives and businesses. Looking ahead, Dr AL Jarboa holds high expectations for the region’s private aviation segment, particularly the market of Saudi Arabia, which is being driven by the country’s national initiatives. “With recent trends, we believe that the market will continue to achieve sig- nifi cant growth supported by KSA Vision 2030, which aims to make Saudi Arabia an investment powerhouse and a hub that connect the three major continents,” explains Dr Al Jarboa. “And with the ongoing and planned mega-projects, the realisation of KSA 2030 will primarily depend on the transportation sector among other things. Therefore, we plan to be in the thick of things; taking a proactive and strategic role in providing aircraft charter services, as well as provid- ing logistical support, ground handling and fl ight support services,” he concludes. BUSINESS JETS 34 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESSBusiness growth requires a global perspective. It starts with the latest technologies, trends and ideas, and comes full circle with a world of connections that are key in helping you manage multiple budgets, high-performing teams and large-scale purchases. Find everything you need to make the most informed decisions all in one place: the 2019 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2019). Join us at EBACE to build relationships and explore the entire marketplace of options. And leave with the best solutions for your business. Get connected and move forward faster. Visit the EBACE website to learn more and register today. REGISTER TODAY www.ebace.aero YOUR GLOBAL CONNECTIONMRO MIDDLE EAST & AIME 2019 36 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESSMRO MIDDLE EAST & AIME 2019 37 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESS KEEPING THE GEARS TURNING AVB’s roundup of key deals signed during this year’s editions of MRO Middle East & Aircraft Interiors Middle EastRunning from the 11 – 12 February 2019, this year’s editions of Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) and MRO Middle East drew thousands of aviation professionals from across the region and Europe. Over its two-day run, the co-located events showcased the latest technolo- gies, products and service launches, as well as the signing of a multitude of deals across the entire supply chain. According to the show’s organisers, Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East, this year’s editions of AIME and MRO ME not only attracted over 5,000 attendees, but featured 330 exhibitors representing the Middle East’s MRO and aircraft interiors market. Additionally, the organisation reported the attendance of airline buyers from 71 airlines from across the globe. “This is the best platform for us to showcase our capabilities and our high quality and standards. This year’s show has been very successful, we have al- ready signed two collaborations, one with a customer and one with a potential customer,” said Abdul Khaliq Saeed, CEO of Etihad Airways Engineering. “The 2019 edition of the show has been incredible,” says Caryn McConnachie, Aerospace Director of show organisers Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East. “We’ve seen a real growth in the inter- est from exhibitors and the quality of the visitors, and the amount of business done demonstrates that there is a real demand in the market for these kinds of focused events.” The show’s organisers have shared next year’s AIME and MRO Middle East will run from 25 – 26 February. Etihad Airways Engineering secures key deals One of the many deals inked by Etihad Airways Engineering during the re- cent MRO ME & AIME 2019 was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Satair, an aviation spares and solu- tions provider. The signing ceremony was conducted by Abdul Khaliq Saeed, CEO of Etihad Airways Engineering and Terry Stone, managing director and head of Sales and Support EMEA, Satair. “We have a long-standing relation- ship with Satair and look forward to strengthening it further with this new MoU,” said Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Etihad Airways Engineering. “As we continue to expand our exten- sive MRO capabilities and expand our global presence, this partnership will help us explore ways to enhance our supply chain function and facilitate parts availabil- ity for customers from all over the world.” As per the penned agreement, Satair will provide supply chain solutions that ensure worldwide parts availability for select aircraft components. As a stepping stone towards establishing an offi cial agreement, the MoU is the latest step in a long-standing collaboration between the two parities that dates back more than 25 years. “We are delighted to engage even further with Etihad Airways Engineering and we look forward to putting Satair’s forecasting and planning capabilities into play and exploring the many opportuni- ties that lie in this forthcoming partner- ship,” commented Terry Stone, Satair. The co-located events drew over 5,000 attendees from across the Middle East and Europe. MRO MIDDLE EAST & AIME 2019 38 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESSAnother key MoU secured by the MRO service provider during the event was with TARMAC Aerosave. Jointly owned by Airbus, Safran and Suez, TARMAC Aerosave is an industrial group specialised in aircraft mainte- nance, storage and recycling. As per the agreement signed with Etihad Airways Engineering, the two parties will collaborate on new oppor- tunities around the delivery of Part 145 maintenance services and products. “We are happy to announce this col- laboration which enhances our ability to support our customers and represents a key milestone on our journey to add the A350 to our extensive range of MRO Magnetic MRO and FPSS have moved to collaborate on joint EASA-compliant MRO operations. MRO MIDDLE EAST & AIME 2019 39 www.aviationbusinessme.com March 2019 · AVIATION BUSINESS We’ve seen a real growth in the interest from exhibitors and the quality of the visi- tors, and the amount of business done dem- onstrates that there is a real demand in the market for these kind of focused events.” Caryn McConnachieNext >