Rayajet to Add Handling and Management to Private Charter

Oct 21, 2008 11:09 AM

Jordan's RayaJet plans to develop business aircraft handling facilities in Amman and Marka to complement regional and fleet expansion plans.

Ahid Quntar, General Director and board member, said he believed the global financial crisis would encourage investment by Middle East nationals in their own regions. "The soundness of the banks, government support and the strong growth of private aviation make the sector very attractive," he said.

Such a "home region" investment trend will facilitate RayaJet's advanced plans to develop a managed fleet building on its established private charter expertise, maintenance and handling capability and its ability to offer consultancy and financial services.

Quntar, who established RayaJet in October 2005, is confident that the company will also add a Challenger 604 in 2009 to its company-owned CE650 and Challenger 601. "It is important that we add the long range capability that will allow us not only to service Arab Gulf destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but also the demand for trips to Europe," he said.

RayaJet, which is working on a joint venture designed to expand its regional network and Arab Gulf client base, has built a strong reputation for VIP charter. It is finalizing a joint venture to expand its established medevac services into Irbil, in northern Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan -- a venture that involves the addition of dedicated a PC-12 and the participation of a pharmaceutical company run to international standards.

Quntar said RayaJet was also poised to offer tourism services based on an expanded AOC through its sister company Sama (Sky). "We have all the necessary expertise and personnel. Our seven pilots will be joined by another two in the near future and we expect our current staff of 63 to grow in response to demand-inspired expansion in the region," he said. "We are confident that a joint venture agreement will be finalized in the near future and we will then benefit further from the demand in the Arab Gulf for business and leisure trips to Jordan and vice-versa."

Quntar, who worked with Royal Jordanian in senior roles for more than a decade, is now Vice President of the Jordanian Tourism Board, regional carrier Royal Wings and of Arab Wings.

"We are working on re-branding RayaJet in keeping with its growing international dimension and image," he said. "Everything will change in keeping with the ongoing upgrading expansion and upgrade of the fleet."

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