EBACE: Arab Wings planning expansion to Europe and Gulf

Arab Wings, the first Middle Eastern corporate aviation operator and now aircraft management specialist is studying plans for a European acquisition as its owner embarks on an expansion strategy that includes new offshoots in Sharjah and Bahrain as well as an aviation university.
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The Jordanian company owns the Royal Jordanian Air Academy and the Queen Noor Civil Aviation Technical College in Amman. Both will be merged into a new university in September, offering degrees and other courses in every aspect of aviation, says chief executive Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh.

Arab Wings - which has 10 aircraft under management and is adding two more this year - is also establishing Gulf Wings in Sharjah and Luxury Wings in Bahrain. Both will operate with local air operator's certificates, and Ghazaleh expects Gulf Wings to have up to 20 aircraft under management by the time of the Dubai air show in November.

Ghazaleh's business acquired all three Jordanian companies from the government between 2003 and 2008. He says prudent running of the company when the industry was on a high has left it with a strong balance sheet. "Unlike many, we didn't go wild. This is now the year when we plan to expand the most," he says.
 

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