Airbus is hoping to market about 5 to 10 corporate jets in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia this year because of the huge market potential there, it was learnt on Sunday.
With the regions older Lockheed 1011, DC-10 and 707 refurbished corporate jets way past their ‘life span’, Saudi Arabia has a potentially huge market for the Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) – the A319. This figure is expected to rise to over 150 planes in the next eight years – about 30 per cent of the market. The UAE comes second in a similar projection.
Airbus’ corporate jets were launched in 1997 with the ACJ, which typically accommodates 19 to 50 passengers. This version is in extensive use worldwide today, operating in VIP, corporate shuttle and government service roles. Studies show that the Middle East is the world’s largest market for corporate jets and there are around 200 of them being operated by private owners and the government in the region.
