Bombardier Aerospace, Canada-based aircraft manufacturer, said its new Business Aircraft Middle East sales office at the Dubai Airport Freezone helps it boost its share in the fast growing Middle East aviation market.
Khader Mattar, Regional Vice President, Sales, Middle East, India & Africa for Bombardier Business Aircraft, said the Dubai Airport Freezone, the Middle East’s fastest growing free zone, has become a globally recognized investment hub for many successful international companies.
“The Freezone’s unique geographical advantage, together with superior facilities and amenities, has made this an ideal location for Bombardier’s new Business Aircraft sales office. This expanded presence in the region supports the increase of our market share in the Middle East and will help us be closer to our clients,” he added
Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone, said the Freezone has created a business ambience that is supportive of and productive for international companies who are setting up for the first time or expanding base in the region.
“The unique location of Dubai Airport Freezone, both as a city centre base and a stone’s throw from Dubai International Airport, has established it as an excellent choice within this market. The Freezone has the ability to provide seamless customs processes, complete license and visa requirements as well as state of the art infrastructure and facilities,” he added. The Dubai freezone facility brings aircraft technical expertise, flight operations support and customer account management functions closer to its customers.
At the Dubai Airshow in 2011, Bombardier, a world leader in the design, manufacturing and support of innovative aviation products for the business, said it would focus emerging markets for its new C-series of jets.
Bombardier said it was on track to launch its C-series in 2012 despite tough conditions. More than 50% of the company’s order backlog of 262 belong to markets outside North America and Western Europe.
Bombardier’s 2011-2030 market forecast predicts that while starting from a small base, the Middle East and Africa will capture seven per cent, or 980 of the 13,100 worldwide deliveries expected in the 20 to 149-seat market segment.
“Aviation is a major industry in the region and although the spotlight to date has been on the long-range and wide-body fleets, there remains a tremendous potential for growth in intra-regional and domestic services throughout Africa and the Middle East,” a Bombardier executive has said at the air show.
Bombardier’s Q-Series and CRJ aircraft fleets in the region already serve a wide range of air transport needs including resource industry charters, short- and medium-haul hub feed and point-to-point airline service.”
Including aircraft on firm order, Bombardier fleet in the region includes more than 180 Dash-8/Q-Series and CRJ aircraft.
A Bombardier spokesperson said as the airlines in the region continue to grow, the plane-maker anticipates that they would also seek efficient single-aisle, mainline aircraft such as Bombardier’s CSeries family of airliners to expand their networks.
