Royal Jet expands air fleet

Royal Jet, the international luxury executive flight services company, headquartered in the UAE, has expanded its current fleet of executive jets with the addition of a fifth Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). The multi-million dollar deal has been made in partnership with First Gulf Bank (FGB) which has financed the purchase of the aircraft. This is the second such financing deal that Royal Jet has made with FGB.

At the contract signing ceremony, which was attended by Royal Jet’s President and CEO Shane O’Hare and Andre Sayegh, CEO, First Gulf Bank, O’Hare said that this latest purchase is a direct response to massive demand for the current fleet of Royal Jet’s BBJs.

“Each of our BBJs is typically flying around 1,300 hours each year. They are based all over the world, not limiting themselves purely to local markets. They can be found in Africa, China, India, North America and Europe and are a highly popular and cost effective choice for businesses not wishing to be tied down by restricted flight times offered by commercial airline companies,” O’Hare stated.

In addition to the two CEOs, the signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Nadir Ahmed Al Hamadi – a Royal Jet Board Member, and Mr. Ramzi Zaroubi – Royal Jet’s Chief Finance Officer, together with Mr. Shafiqur Rahman Adhami – FGB’s Senior Vice President Corporate Banking Group, Head of Financial Institutions, Syndications, MNC and Energy and Oil Sector.

Royal Jet CEO Shane O’Hare added, that FGB had been chosen as the preferred business partner because it was the most competitive in terms of pricing and flexibility and its fast turnaround of loan documentation. FGB had been selected out of five competing proposals. “Royal Jet has a long-standing relationship with First Gulf Bank, and together offer financing and operations solutions allowing corporations and individuals to acquire their own business/private aircraft,” he said.

Commenting on the deal, Andre Sayegh, CEO, First Gulf Bank, said that the institution viewed Royal Jet as one of its premier customers and was very pleased to have been selected once again as Royal Jet’s partner of choice.

“First Gulf Bank continues to take impressive strides to ensure its status as a fully-fledged financial institution. This growth is buoyed by our commitment to expanding our offerings, delivering world-class financial services and products, and developing new client investment opportunities. As a leader in its field, Royal Jet fits this strategy and our partnership is one that brings great benefits to both parties,” he said.

Royal Jet has steadily built up an enviable fleet, which, in the past year, has grown from eight to 12 fixed wing aircraft and a VIP helicopter.

The BBJ is a derivative of Boeing’s New-Generation 737-700 series of commercial passenger aircraft. It can be arranged in multiple configurations to carry between 36 and 52 passengers, including the option of having a private bedroom aboard, a conference/dining area, and a living area in the most common layouts. It has a maximum range of 5,500 nautical miles – equivalent to about 10 hours flying time – at altitudes of up to 41,000 ft (12,500m).

“We are constantly striving to increase our presence in important international markets and we always assess industry movements to keep up with the increasing demand for aviation services,” said Ramzi Zaroubi, CFO, Royal Jet. “Last year alone, Royal Jet reported a 60 percent increase in charter services revenue, and with our expanding fleet, we are well placed to capitalise on the ever-growing demand for private aviation services.”

“This BBJ addition will be subject to high demand like all its earlier companion aircraft and will allow us to successfully grow out business regionally and internationally,” Ramzi added.

Vicky Karantzavelou - Monday, August 13, 2007

Singapore to begin works for F1 grand prix circuit

The process to get the street circuit ready for the inaugural Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 has been set in motion. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is slated to begin road works sometime next month, while the design of the Paddock building is also being finalised.

This milestone comes after three months of intense planning by various government agencies with the race promoter, Singapore GP Pte Ltd, since Singapore announced it will host the world’s third most-watched sporting event from next year. A fortnight ago, on 27 July 2007, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA, or the World Motor Sports Council) set the date of the first Singapore Grand Prix as 28 September 2008.

The 5.05km long street circuit offers a number of overtaking opportunities, fast turns and technically challenging sections for F1 race drivers, which, in turn, will present viewers with compelling race action to keep them on the edge of their seats. More than 70 per cent of the street circuit is made up of Singapore’s existing road network. The Paddock building will house the control tower, garages for the teams, hospitality lounges, Press Room and other facilities.

Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, who chairs the event’s working committee, said, “I am pleased that the planning for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix is progressing well. We have refined the proposed street circuit and submitted the plans to the FIA, the international governing body for motorsports, for its assessment and endorsement. Concurrently, we are combing through the details for the rest of the infrastructure works, such as finalising the design concept and construction schedule of the Paddock building. We are confident that both the circuit and Paddock building will be officially endorsed very soon.”

The project team needs to work within a tight timeframe of fewer than 16 months to put in place the necessary infrastructure for the 2008 race. A high level of coordination between Government agencies and related stakeholders is required to ensure that the necessary infrastructure can be delivered in time.

Mr Lim added, “It is heartening to note the commitment and professionalism demonstrated by every member of the team in delivering a Grand Prix that all Singaporeans will be proud of.”

Mr Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, said that while the track layout, “hasn’t changed dramatically” from what was originally released, over the past two months the circuit has developed from a couple of lines sketched on a map into something that resembles a proper racetrack, with all the attendant infrastructure marked in.

“It’s going to be very exciting to see all this take shape. The sheer scale of the task required is simply staggering, but the support that we’ve received from all the government agencies involved has been tremendous,” he added.

Proposed road works

The following works, which will be managed by LTA, are expected to commence in September 2007, once the race route is confirmed by FIA:

1. Construction of a 1.2 km road that will form the eastern section of the circuit
   
   
2. A new vehicular/pedestrian underpass and service road leading to the Pit Building
   
   
3. Widening of a stretch of the promenade between the existing outdoor seating gallery and floating platform in Marina Bay
   
   
4. Widening a section of Raffles Boulevard from Nicoll Highway to Temasek Avenue
   
   
5. Modifications to existing road kerbs and traffic islands

Michael Verikios - Monday, August 13, 2007

Egypt and Sudan combine tourism forces

Several meetings have taken place in Egypt to discuss means of cooperation and coordination of forces to help strengthen tourism between Egypt and Sudan. Representatives of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, Egyptian Tourism Federation and Egyptian Travel Agents Association met with members of the Sudanese Ministry of Tourism and the Embassy of Sudan in Egypt.

The discussion agenda included:

• Labour training in the Sudanese tourism sector
  
  
• Collaborating forces between the two parties for promoting Sudanese tourist products
  
  
• Investment facilities from the Sudanese Government granted to Egyptian

In order to help strengthen tourism integration between the two countries, the Sudanese delegation expressed that their Ministry of Tourism will invite the Egyptian party to visit Sudan in order to experience the Sudanese tourist product first hand.

Theodore Koumelis - Monday, August 13, 2007

Travellers want to spend at Indian Airports

In India, nearly half of all travellers expressed a willingness to spend at airports according to a new survey by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. 44% of Full Service Carrier (FSC) passengers, and nearly 40% of Low Cost Carrier (LCC) passengers would like to buy goods either at their departure or arrival airport.





In regard to retail behaviour, the findings reveal that there are only minor – near insignificant – differences between FSC and LCC buying sentiments. Furthermore, in each case, the propensity to buy appears strong across a range of products.

• 56% of FSC passengers and 52% of LCC passengers are attracted by the opportunity to buy chocolates at airports.
• 49% of LCC passengers would buy books, as compared to 44% for FSC.
• 47% of FSC passengers would be interested in purchasing luxury goods, as compared to 42% of LCS.

At present, India’s airports are still relatively under-developed in retail activity. These findings should be attractive to would-be retail operators, as the figures suggest that a real growth potential may exist in this sector.

Michael Verikios - Monday, August 13, 2007

Tahiti Plane Crash Voice Recorder Located

Search teams have located the cockpit flight recorder of a passenger aircraft that crashed last week killing at least 14 people, but authorities said they would need specialist deep-water equipment to recover it.

The conversation voice recorder on board the Twin Otter could tell investigators why the aircraft with 19 passengers and a pilot came down on Thursday shortly after taking off from the island of Moorea on a short hop to the local capital Papeete.

But local authorities in Papeete said none of their vessels was stable enough to provide a platform for the underwater robot being sent from Paris to recover the recorder, discovered at a depth of around 430 metres.

France may ask nearby countries to lend it a vessel to conduct the recovery operation, the authorities said in a statement late on Sunday.

Fourteen bodies have been recovered but six people remain missing and authorities hold out no hope of any survivors. Senior official Anne Bocquet said teams would continue to search for wreckage and bodies for a further two weeks and had asked local fishermen to report objects found at sea.

Two police air crash investigators have been sent to the zone to work with three civilian experts in situ since Saturday.

Moorea is one of around 118 islands scattered across an area the size of Europe in the South Pacific that make up France's overseas territory of French Polynesia.

(Reuters)

Pakistani Flight Attendant Caught With Weapon

A Pakistani flight attendant was caught trying to carry a pistol on board a Pakistan International Airlines flight on Monday, police and airlines officials said.

The stewardess, in her mid-20s, was carrying the pistol in her hand luggage as she tried to board a PIA flight from Karachi to the port city of Gwadar, they said.

"She was caught this morning by Airports Security Force personnel and has been handed over to the police now," Maqsood Ahmed, a Superintendent of Police said.

It was not immediately clear as to why the woman tried to take the weapon onto the flight. Ahmed said the police were investigating.

PIA spokesman Nasir Jamal confirmed the incident, but did not give more details.

"The matter is still under investigation," he said.

(Reuters)