Gama Aviation Research Reveals Size of Middle East Business Aircraft Market

New research from Gama Aviation plc, the global aviation services company, reveals that there are now 792 business aircraft in the Middle East, and between 2010 and 2014, 176 of these were delivered to the region.

Gama Aviation's analysis reveals that when compared to the rest of the world, the Middle East has a much bigger focus on mid to larger sized business aircraft. Some 59% of its fleet is classified as medium to heavy, and 11% as business jet airliners. The corresponding figures for the global fleet are 29.8% and 1%.

Saudi Arabia has the biggest fleet of business aircraft in the Middle East, with 188 (23.7% of the region's total), followed by Turkey (157 and 18.5%) and the UAE (135 and 17%). These three countries also accounted for 71% of all business aircraft deliveries between 2010 and 2014.

Gama Aviation plc has been operating in the Middle East since 2006 and it sees strong growth potential for its business in the region. On 1st August it announced that it will be expanding its operations at Sharjah International Airport in the UAE.

With the support of Sharjah Airport Authority, it has acquired additional aircraft parking space to meet the growing demand it is experiencing for business aviation (particularly BBJs) at the airport, and from across the region. As part of the agreement, Gama Aviation's fixed base operation (FBO) and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) teams will also be personally supervising the business aircraft left in their care, ensuring clients receive the highest possible levels of service.