ALKHOBAR, 18 March 2004 — ExecuJet Middle East, part of the Global ExecuJet Aviation Group, has been named the official carrier for the Al-Suwaiket Group’s luxury apartment development overlooking the holy city of Makkah.
The Al-Suwaiket Group, which is ranked 17th in the Top 100 Saudi Companies, will offer use of ExecuJet’s Bombardier Learjet 45XR, Learjet 60, Global Express and Challenger for clients staying at its lavish 25-floor Jabal Al-Kaaba tower as part of a package of services offered to VIP guests.
“The apartments will be very luxurious, offering our clients the latest in comfort, style and elegance. As part of the package we will arrange private business air travel, using ExecuJet’s airplanes, should our clients request it,” said Abdullah Al-Suwaiket, VP, Al-Suwaiket Group.
Passengers will be flown in and out of Jeddah, the closest airport to Makkah and nearby Madinah airport will also be used. Guests using the ExecuJet service will be invoiced at special rates negotiated with the Al-Suwaiket Group. ExecuJet, which has a base in the Kingdom, will support the operation from its Middle East headquarters in Dubai.
ExecuJet’s latest move comes just days after the company announced that it had completed the first stage of its aggressive expansion plan by more than doubling the number of employees working in the region. ExecuJet has recruited 26 people within six months, bringing the total headcount to 45.
Two of the main growth areas within the company have been ExecuJet’s maintenance and operations divisions, as the company looks to recruit a pool of aviation expertise that will enable it to extend its charter activities and expand the range of services offered to business jet operators in the region. Key activities supported by these two divisions include ground handling, flight planning and aircraft administration.
As well as bolstering its Dubai-based operations, ExecuJet has also strengthened its presence in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Cairo. Demand for ExecuJet’s complete set of aviation services has seen business increase over the last 12 months, as more travelers look to the reliability, convenience and safety of private jet travel. In addition to the new human resources recruited, ExecuJet has also added new aircraft to its charter fleet in recent months, including a Bombardier Global Express and a Pilatus PC-12.
One of the mid-term goals of ExecuJet’s expansion plan is to ensure that the company has sufficient resources to staff its dedicated aircraft service center and spare parts depot, currently under construction at Dubai International Airport. The 28,000 sq. ft. service center, being built in partnership with Bombardier Aerospace, will feature two maintenance bays capable of accommodating two Bombardier Global Express ultra long-range business jets at the same time.
