Al Jaber Aviation’s $1.2 billion order for 21 new aircraft placed during November’s MEBA show in Dubai confirmed the business aviation industry’s hopes that rising demand in the Middle East will compensate for slowing sales in western markets that are more directly affected by the ongoing financial crisis. The region certainly does still have a big appetite for more aircraft, but what MEBA also revealed was that Middle Eastern companies are increasingly taking a more hands-on approach to the development of their industry.
Historically, Middle Eastern individuals and firms have been perceived as somewhat passive consumers of products and services from western companies. Today, local business people increasingly are taking more direct control of their destiny and expanding their business aviation portfolios to include a full array of business aviation services. The newcomers are following in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi’s Royal Jet, which in recent years has established itself as the region’s frontrunner in terms of locally grown, world-class business aviation services.
