Qatar Executive has announced plans to double its fleet of private jets, from three to six aircraft.
From mid-May, Qatar Airways’ private jet division will add three new Bombardier planes to its fleet: a Bombardier XRS in May; a Challenger 605 in July; and a Global 5000 in August.
Like the existing fleet, features of the new aircraft will include iPod docking stations, satellite telephone, high-speed internet and printer capabilities.
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways CEO, said the planned growth is in repsonse to a growing demand for business jet services, especially in the Middle East.
“When Qatar Executive first began, it was a successful operation right from the start,” he said – Qatar Executive first launched in 2009 with two Bombardier Challenger 605s.
“The travel patterns we witnessed from the onset were indicative of the pent-up demand for tailor-made and completely customised travel,” said Al Baker.
“It immediately became obvious that we were filling a gap in a market which has grown rapidly, particularly in the Middle East region.”
The number of private aircraft operated in the Arab World will increase from 450 today to 1,300 by 2020, according to the Middle East Business Aviation Association, with the addition of more than 800 planes over the next 10 years.
A new business jet hangar has also opened at Qatar Airways’ hub, Doha International Airport.
The 6,300 sqm facility carries out maintenance operations as well as aircraft, cleaning handling and dispatch services, and is equipped with a passenger lounge.