Contributor - Middle East

Peter Shaw-Smith

Switzerland-based aircraft&nbsp;management, charter, and completions specialist, Comlux Aviation (Static Display)&nbsp;has broken ground on a hangar in Dubai that is expected to open late next year.&nbsp;The company signed an agreement for the land with the government entity Dubai South during the 2021 Dubai Airshow. The building will be more than 7,000 sq m, including 5,000 sq m of&nbsp;hangar space, 750 sq m in back shops, and 1,500 sq m for office space and showrooms.

 


“This will give us another location to provide light maintenance services, light cabin works, and aircraft management,” executive chairman Richard Gaona told AIN. “It’s another brick in the Comlux wall.”

 


The Middle East has become an important part of Comlux’s development, putting it close to many charter clients in the region and in Africa. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE are all seen as&nbsp;important countries for business aviation, from where Gaona expects new opportunities to emanate.

 


Comlux operates from diverse locations—Zurich, the U.S., Dubai, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong. “We have to be flexible. It’s the advantage of being a small company,” Gaona&nbsp;said. “Our vision at Comlux is to exist in two or three different global locations where business is good. If a problem comes up in one place, we can still continue to exist and grow elsewhere. That’s been the strategy from day one. It’s all about diversification of products and services and of geographical locations.”

 


Dubai Al Maktoum International (OMDW) is more than an airport, Gaona said. “Today, it is a business center where you can find every kind of nationality. Serving our private jet clients based in the region is important.

 


“We have a commercial office at OMDW’s VIP terminal to welcome our clients when they arrive, but we don’t do FBOs. We offer mainly aircraft sales and charter&nbsp;sales; in the future, once we have the hangar, it’s clear that our development and presence in Dubai is going to increase.”

 


He believes the focus on OMDW,&nbsp;as the main airport for Dubai, is increasing. “Business leaders at Dubai South are doing everything they can to create a maintenance hub there,” he said. “I don’t want to promote my competitors, but everyone is trying to open their own facility. Comlux will be a service provider there.”

 


But looking at the larger Middle East region, Gaona is unclear about the current state of the Saudi Arabian market. “There are several development initiatives in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “I hope&nbsp;the kingdom becomes a location for doing more business, transactions, maintenance, and completions.”

 


From its commercial office at the VIP Terminal at OMDW, Comlux is well positioned to do business in Dubai, but also Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and even Israel, he believes. “Over the last two years, I’ve seen more people from Israel conducting business in Dubai. Who would have thought that this would’ve happened? Sometimes, a small political decision in a country can open business up.”

 


<h2>ACJ TwoTwenty Delivery</h2>

 


Meanwhile, Gaona expects&nbsp;the first&nbsp;ACJ TwoTwenty the company is completing at its Indianapolis, Indiana&nbsp;facility to be <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-10-15/comlux-aviation-complete-first-acj-twotwenty-january">delivered on schedule</a> to client Five Hotels &amp; Resorts next month. With plans to complete up to 16 of the Airbus bizliners, he is bullish on the ACJ TwoTwenty’s prospects.

 


“Once the ACJ TwoTwenty enters service and we show it to clients, I’m convinced the program will get a big boost,” he said. “It is much cheaper than the ACJ319&nbsp;or BBJ Max, and about the same price as a [Bombardier] Global or Gulfstream. Those who can afford Boeing and Airbus will continue to take the big [aircraft], but those who are flying top-end business jet products may decide to take one, as it’s the same budget&nbsp;with a wider cabin.”

 


That could make the ACJ TwoTwenty very successful. “We will not win market share against the top-end products but grow it from the bottom. Every time I hear a traditional business jet OEM is developing a bigger plane, I’m extremely happy because it means they are starting to compete with us on cabin size. We are a solid and loyal partner of Airbus on the ACJ TwoTwenty, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation.”

 


However, Gaona said Comlux could not continue to exist with work from only one OEM. “We work with several&nbsp;to ensure customer satisfaction. In&nbsp;the end, it is the client who chooses the aircraft,” he said. “That’s why we operate Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer aircraft; we are a completion center and service center for Airbus Corporate Jets&nbsp;and Boeing Business Jets, and we sell various aircraft types when a request comes in.”

 


This week at MEBAA 2022, Comlux is displaying its&nbsp;BBJ767-200ER SkyLady. “We refurbished the cabin during Covid in Indianapolis, but up until now we have not yet had the chance to put it on display,” he said.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

Comlux Building Light Maintenance Hangar in Dubai

Comlux Aviation Breaks Ground on Hangar in Dubai and expects to deliver its first completed ACJ TwoTwenty to a Middle East-based client in January.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Approval for these aircraft is expected in early 2025

West Star Developing Three Embraer Gogo Galileo STCs

Going back to natural materials can have advantages in sustainability.

Austrian company F/List Is Using New Materials for Greener Cabin Interiors

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Platform generates more than 200,000 charter requests 

Stack Aero Integrates Tuvoli’s FlyEasy

System is on track for launch of service later this year

Gogo HDX Satcom Antenna Passes DO-160 Testing

LEO satcom is expected to begin service by the end of the year

Gogo Galileo Signs Wheels Up and Textron Aviation

Kerry Lynch

Mid Continent leaders will retain a 12% stake in company

Heico Expands Bizjet Foothold with Mid Continent Controls Buy

Approval adds option for service center installations

Gulfstream First OEM To Receive Starlink STC

Jessica Reed

Both companies installed PS Engineering’s PAC45 digital audio systems in two separate aircraft

Rotortech and West Star Aviation Upgrade Audio Systems

MEBAA 2022

In this article

Comlux

More In Cabin Interior and Electronics