Despite the recent market conditions, Dassault Falcon has a fleet of more than 60 Falcon business jets operated by customers in the region and a backlog of a dozen additional aircraft to be delivered to regional buyers

The Middle East region remains a major market for business aviation, helped by the increasing globalisation of business and the rise of strong companies, operating regionally and even internationally, in the Middle East, and despite the recent turbulence in some countries in the region.

“The business aviation market in the Middle East has matured to the extent that, today, a business jet is viewed as a powerful tool to enable quick and convenient access to customers, within the region and worldwide. They are recognised as a vital business asset by local entrepreneurs, and larger regional companies,” declared John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon.

Despite the recent challenging market conditions, Dassault Falcon, the business jet operation of Dassault Aviation, has a fleet of more than 60 Falcon business jets operated by customers in the region and a backlog of a dozen additional aircraft to be delivered to regional buyers over the next two years, representing growth of 15 per cent. The company has been very active at the last Dubai Air Show in November and has increased its expectations for the next future.

Dassault’s Falcon 7X, the flagship model, accounts for 40 per cent of Falcon Middle East sales. Saudia Private Aviation (the respected business aviation unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines), already operates three of these aircraft, with a fourth to be delivered soon, which will make it the largest owner of the Falcon 7X. A third 7X has been delivered to Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group (EAG), which operates the largest managed fleet of business jets in the Middle East.

Renaud Cloatre, Sales Director for the Middle East, comments: “Dassault Falcon aircraft are very well-suited to the demands of our Middle East customers, offering long range and large cabins. Our customers are mostly companies and entrepreneurs who are highly mobile, and who move all around the world on business. They need comfortable and well-equipped aircraft in which to work and rest en route. Above all, they value the efficient Falcon aircraft design which means 20 per cent to 40 per cent less fuel consumption and lower emissions.”

Currently, Dassault Falcon has four large-cabin models—the tri-jets Falcon 7X and Falcon 900LX and the twinjets Falcon 2000S and Falcon 2000LX. All these airplanes are well suited to the demands of Middle East owners, with spacious, comfortable and private cabins, and large luggage capacity. The Falcon 7X is capable of meeting the demands of more than 90 per cent of city trips made by the typical business aviation traveller. The airplane can connect New York to Riyadh, Jeddah to Recife, or Dubai to Darwin.

Increasingly important to aircraft operators in the region is easy access to local service and advanced technical support and spares. Dassault Falcon has continued to invest in regional infrastructure and now operates authorised service centres in Dubai and Jeddah, as well as a spares distribution centre in Dubai, and a technical office in Jeddah. The company’s regional sales office is also based in Dubai.