Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) has announced plans to establish the Middle East’s first dedicated executive airport at Al Bateen military airbase, about 10 kms from Abu Dhabi city centre.

The Bateen facility will be developed as an exclusive corporate jet facility at an investment of over Dh200 million ($54.4 million) with additional facilities at the airport, which until now has been a military airbase.

Adac will build a ‘one-stop shop’ business jet facility, offering VVIP and VIP passenger terminals, airport services, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), fuel, handling and all other fixed-base operational services, said a top Adac official at the Farnborough Airports show.

Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of Adac, said, "As a growing centre of international business and finance, Abu Dhabi has seen significant growth in the number of corporate jets coming to the city over the last few years. With this development, we are able to meet that demand today and into the future."

“The site offers a unique strategic location just minutes from the heart of the capital city. The facilities already in place will allow us to accommodate more corporate jet operations immediately. In parallel, we will implement our investment programme, which will create one of the best executive airports in the world,” he noted.

The 3,200 metre runway can accommodate a range of aircraft types and sizes, from smaller corporate jets up to Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) or Boeing 737-800s.  Aircraft can park at one of 30 plus stands and passengers can have access through three passenger terminals.

Adac’s initial investment will see upgrades to the airfield infrastructure, including runway surfacing, lighting and electrical power, and operational equipment, as well as enhancing terminal facilities and adding stands.

Over the longer term, the company will support the development of a corporate jet maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre at the airport.

Al Mazrouei pointed out that the conversion of the Bateen airbase to a private jet airport was a core element of Adac strategy to meet current and future air travel demand in the emirate.

"This airport will now become the focus for one of the fastest-growing areas of air travel. There are more than 380 corporate jets based in the Middle East, a figure that is forecast to grow to 900 by 2014," he noted.

And with industry experts predicting that close to 15,000 business jets worth $192 billion will be purchased over the next decade, the regional business aviation markets will have massive potential, achieving 18 percent growth year-on-year.

A number of national and international corporate jet companies as well as FBO operators have expressed an interest in basing their operations at the former Bateen airbase.

Al Mazrouei said the corporate jet market was an important element of Abu Dhabi’s air transport strategy.

"By creating the a dedicated executive jet airport, we are taking an important step forward in regional leadership of this sector and in reinforcing the credentials of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as the regions premier venue for aviation and aerospace industry to flourish," he added.

The Bateen airport facility adds a third airport to Adac’s portfolio of aviation facilities it owns and operates.

Adac has also plans to operate several island airports at Delma and Sir Baniyas to support the tourist trade via air taxis operating from both Bateen and Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Adac is also constructing extensive maintenance, manufacturing and logistics facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Al Ain International Airport.-TradeArabia News Service