Operator Spotlight: DC Aviation Al-Futtaim

Air Charter Guide recently spoke with Holger Ostheimer of DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF), one of the leading operators in Europe and Dubai-based Al-Futtaim. DC Aviation has a global reputation as a premium provider of aircraft management, executive charter operations, business jet maintenance and consultation services.

1) What sets your operation apart from the competition?
DC Aviation Al-Futtaim is a full aviation turnkey service provider. We are the first company at Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW) to have our own VVIP Lounge and hangars. We provide management, maintenance and hangar parking service for our clients. We offer our VVIP customers the highest levels of comfort, convenience and privacy. The facility offers the shortest distance from limousine drop-off to aircraft steps and the highest levels of privacy and safety, thereby attracting continued interest from owners and operators seeking our expertise to manage their assets both commercially as well as under private operation.

From the aircraft management side, we continue to work on adding to our managed fleet and remain quite positive that new aircraft will be joining our fleet over the next few months. On the maintenance side, we are increasing the levels of complexity that we can provide with the new hangar.

Our success can only be attributed to the tremendous efforts of our team who continue to raise the bar and thereby enabling us to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers. Since commencing operations in 2013, we have been steadily scaling up our activities and we remain positive on the growth prospects for this year.

2) How would you describe your fleet or flagship aircraft?
Currently DCA Group has a total of 29 Aircraft (we have added another Falcon 7x to the fleet below (this is across all offices, Stuttgart, Malta and Dubai)

3) What does the future look like for your company?
The Business and Private aviation industry is very niche. It caters to the 1% UHNI in the world. Dubai will continue to attract high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals who represent a certain level of activity in terms of aircraft ownership or private-jet movements. Our services and expertise will always be needed for management, maintenance or hangarage.

It is no secret that the aviation industry was among the hardest hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis brought commercial traffic to a standstill but provided a silver lining to business aviation. While trade tensions, geopolitical issues and the pandemic made for a rather volatile landscape in global aviation, business aviation had its challenges but was able to bounce back quicker than most other sectors.

The pandemic has also brought new opportunities for business and private aviation. We have seen an increasing number of new customers looking for a more secure and safer way to travel. Passengers who generally travel in first and business class are now looking to charter aircraft to avoid busy airports and being stuck on an aircraft with other people. Consumer behavior has slightly changed with last-minute bookings coming in more frequently than what the industry is used to receiving.

We are also seeing new inquiries for aircraft purchases. Some HNWI are seriously looking to buy their own aircraft and have it leased out for charter when not using it.

For us, it has been very steady and driven by people based in Dubai in possession of aircraft. We continue to receive strong interest from owners and operators for our Aircraft Management and Handling services which shows that we are on the right track. We continue to remain optimistic and expect to progress steadily.

4) How did you get into aviation?
I found myself drawn to the skies despite studying to become a teacher. My passion for aviation has to do with my childhood experience of having seen aircraft landing and departing day in and out. When I was at school, I was living very close to Frankfurt International Airport. I’ve always wondered where a particular aircraft might travel to or where it is coming from. Having become accustomed to the sight of aeroplanes and the smell of kerosene, I inevitably ended up in the aviation industry.

I worked in just about every department including aircraft ground handling, passenger services, aircraft cargo, airline station management and aircraft charter brokerage. I have traveled as an onboard operations representative in crisis regions and trained as a professional pilot. While serving as an aviation management consultant on several start-up projects, I was assigned to the DC Aviation Al-Futtaim joint venture.

5) What is your most popular itinerary/destination?
We continue to see strong demand to most GCC destinations, India, Europe and Male.  

7) What is your #1 travel tip for charter travelers?
This may sound cliché but always try and plan in advance as it gives you a better chance of finding special rates and ensure all arrangements are made to ensure a smooth journey.

8) Contact info:
DC AVIATION AL FUTTAIM CO. LLC
DWC
AVIATION DISTRICT DUBAI SOUTH
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
Tel: 971 4 870 1800
Email: charter@dc-aviation.ae
http://www.dc-aviation.ae