Elite Jets and Switzerland-based Jet Aviation have signed a partnership agreement under which the two companies will work together to provide aircraft management and charter services in the Middle East.

Elite Jets is a Dubai-based firm that provides charter, aircraft sales brokerage and aircraft management services.

Jet Aviation and Elite Jets’ new management have maintained a close working relationship in the past, said a company official.

'The new strategic partnership agreement will support their common goals of deepening the cooperation and increasing market share in the Middle East for aircraft management and charter services.'

As part of the agreement, Jet Aviation will designate a member to the board of directors of Elite Jets and will appoint a new director of ground operation to be based in Dubai.

The scope of the agreement ranges from providing regional charter services to Jet Aviation customers in the Middle East through Elite Jets, while Jet Aviation provides line and unscheduled maintenance services to their fleet of business aircraft.

In addition, Jet Aviation will provide operational assistance to Elite Jets in compliance with the company’s stringent quality, safety and service standards and also conduct recurrent training of all staff and crew members.

Elite Jets will also benefit from Jet Aviation’s extensive buying power for insurance premiums and fuel discounts and the company’s global network of FBO and maintenance facilities.

“We are delighted and honoured to enter into this partnership with Jet Aviation, a world leader in its field. This partnership builds on each company’s unique strengths and Elite Jet’s customers will greatly benefit from having access to an expanded fleet of aircraft and services across Europe, Russia, The Far East and the US” said Ammar Balkar, member of the board of directors, president and CEO of Elite Jets.

Andre Wall, COO of Jet Aviation EMEA and Asia said the duo complemented one another and 'together we will become a major provider of full management services of aircraft based or operated in Dubai, enhancing our position as one of the world leaders in aircraft management.”

Martin Bernegger, Jet Aviation’s general manager for the company’s aircraft charter division in EMEA and Asia said, 'Elite Jets and their quality fleet would be a great addition to our aircraft offerings, allowing us to better serve the growing Middle East Market.”

The company holds an Aircraft Operator’s certificate (AOC) from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and currently operates a fleet of Citation CJ3, Hawker 850XP, and Challenger 604 aircraft and expects the delivery of a brand new Challenger 605 in September 2008.

Charter clients include Royalty, Celebrities, VIPs, individual business and corporate executives as well as leisure travelers from the Middle East and around the world.-TradeArabia News Service