PrivatAir prepares for Arabian venture; explores opportunities in India

Swiss VIP charter and management company PrivatAir is gearing up to establish a Middle Eastern base by June as part of a strategy to expand the global footprint of this high-end business aircraft services company.
"The Middle East has a huge appeal for PrivatAir," says chief executive Greg Thomas. "We have wanted to establish a PrivatAir Arabia base for some time, but now the market is ripe for the move. We plan to be up and running in Bahrain by June and if this move is successful we may consider setting up as second base in Dubai, Jeddah or Abu Dhabi."
Thomas says the Middle East has weathered the economic storm better than most of the developed countries and the potential across the region for its management and charter brand is strong.
PrivatAir is also exploring opportunities in India and China. Thomas says both are "ripe for business aviation, with poor transport infrastructure, underdeveloped airline network, and a growing population of millionaires. But there is no set timetable for establishing a base there."
The Geneva-based company - which has an eight-strong aircraft fleet including four Boeing Business Jets, a Boeing 757 and 767 - is evaluating a move into the nascent European very light jet air taxi market in 2011, when the industry is expected to be on the road to recovery.
19/01/10 Kate Sarsfield/Flight Global.com

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Jan 2010, New Jan 2010