Sharjah Update Sharjah business & Investment News from Invest in Sharjah (Sharjah FDI Office)
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Global business aviation services company Gama Aviation this week confirmed plans to further expand its private aviation hub in Sharjah. The company began handling all business aviation services at Sharjah International Airport in early 2012 via a partnership with Sharjah Airport Authority and recently opened its own private aviation terminal, providing a full service private aviation hub for its customers serving Sharjah, Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Since the terminal’s opening, several aircraft owners and operators have made Sharjah Airport their principal base of operations. Expert handling services, competitive parking and hangar fees, combined with the absence of slot restrictions, ample parking space and ease of access, have helped establish the private terminal as a popular destination and service stop. The new facility has also allowed Gama to offer business aviation customers an executive lounge and crew facilities.
According to Gama Aviation FZE general manager, Richard Lineveldt, the aviation company will proceed with the second phase of the hub’s development. 2015 will see the construction of a new mixed-use hangar for maintenance and aircraft storage. The terminal operator currently has access to four hangars at Sharjah International Airport, allowing it to offer business jet owners short and long term parking, dedicated ramp handling and fuel, provided by Air BP.
The construction of a new hangar is expected to allow Gama to expand its line maintenance offering and it has already secured the necessary UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency approvals allowing engineers to provide line maintenance support for a wide range of business aircraft, including the Beechcraft King Air, Bombardier Challenger, Bombardier Global, Embraer Legacy , Gulfstream and Boeing Business Jets.
UK-based Gama currently employs over 500 people and operates over 80 business aircraft from 25 operating bases across four continents, including a complement of eight planes in its managed fleet servicing the MENA region. Investors in Gama Aviation’s private airport facility in Sharjah include Sharjah-headquartered Crescent Enterprises, Growthgate Capital and Sharjah’s Department of Civil Aviation.
Sharjah International Airport handled 8.5 million passengers in last year and is a hub for a number of international passenger and cargo airlines including the Sharjah-headquartered budget carrier Air Arabia. The airport recently opened its new 4,060 metre runway adding capacity for for the airport to accommodate large and new-generation ICAO Code F aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeings B747-8 Intercontinental and B747-8 freighter.
Source: Gama Aviation
