EBACE: GainJet launches African venture

European charter operator GainJet Aviation is to open a base in Kigali next month, as it sets its eyes on supplying the African market with a true ultra-long range VIP travel experience.
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It is basing a 2012 Gulfstream 550 at the Rwandan capital. The aircraft can accommodate 14 passengers in superior luxury with direct satellite TV, fast broadband and has a flight range of 13.5 hours/6750 nm. The aircraft can link directly the US East Coast and South East Asia to many African capitals.
Speaking at the EBACE show in Geneva, GainJet president, Capt Ramsey Shaban, said: “There is a lack of true VIP operators with true VIP aircraft in Africa, especially in the East and Central African regions. Kigali is a natural aviation hub which sits at the centre of the continent and the Government of Rwanda has offered us the right incentives.
“GainJet Africa stands to benefit from the friendly business environment created in Rwanda. We want to bring to Africa the excellent service that we have been supplying to both Europe and the Middle-East for over eight years. And the clientele in the continent most certainly deserves such service.”
GainJet had begun its plans to expand into Africa in 2011 as a founding member of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), "One of AfBAA’s missions is to establish a unified set of regulations and create a better environment to operate in across the whole African continent. We feel AfBAA has made great progress in this mission, and this is why we believe it is the right time to start GainJet Africa. It has been our plan for a while, so we have been preparing for this and are ready,” Shaban said.

PICTURED: Captain Ramsey Shaban (Left), shakes hands in agreement with GainJet Marketing Director, Andrew Hallak   who brought forward the idea for GainJet Africa.