Latest from Peter Shaw-Smith

A number of Swiss banks are financing business jets in the UAE

Saudia Private Aviation is set to take two BBJs in 2017.

WFS supplies 8,000 clients in 200 countries

Alpha Star subsidiary has two A340s in its fleet, one of which is at MEBAA.

Saudi operator also selected Honeywell’s GoDirect cabin connectivity service for its Airbus A319s and A330s.

Panel on MEBAA Conference heard of the importance of FBOs to business aviation.

Accompanied by senior aviation officials, Sheikh Ahmed has a whistle-stop tour of the MEBAA Show 2016.

Milan Linate claims to be Italy’s biggest business aviation destination.

Hotel booking app developer moves head office in early 2017

Jetex is one of three FBOs occupying the new VIP Terminal at Dubai World Central

Market situation “difficult”

Commercial operations with PC-12 single-engine turboprops cleared by regulator; MEBAA pushes for greater use of small aircraft.

UK courses likely to highlight differences between EASA and UAE GCAA coursework.

Alpha Star subsidiary has two A340s in its fleet, one of which is at MEBAA.

Joint venture combines Austrian and Bahraini expertise

The company has expanded steadily and now has 10 global offices and 25 representative locations worldwide.

Ali Alnaqbi and Al Shimmari call on fragmented industry to act in concert, while the backdrop is a welcome hike in oil prices.

SPA could ultimately be privatized

IWG sets up aviation academy in Morocco.

Cedar Executive seeing increased demand for private-jet travel in 2016

Incoming Royal Jet CEO to leverage assets and prioritize safety, service excellence; says Saudi market size only 20pc bigger than UAE’s.

New v-p of sales and marketing joins company as it plans to add three more Gulfstream G650ERs, doubling the fleet.

Abu Dhabi-based operator has growing fleet of helicopters and has Pilatus PC-24 on order.

Syria and Yemen no-fly zones increase charter costs

With the regional market slow, and with sharply declining valuations, Empire Aviation Group is looking further afield to grow the business.

GCAA is cautious on single-engine turboprop commercial operations, but MEBAA is supportive.

Operators full of praise for GCAA role as it gives the sector a high priority in UAE.

Operations at second hangar to begin in the third quarter of 2017.

Interim facility to operate until late 2018

Movements and development is picking up at Dubai South, DWC, with business aviation to all but move out of DXB airport over the next year.