UAE-based business conglomerate Al Habtoor Group said it has formally signed an aircraft management agreement with Royal Jet, an international luxury flight services company based in Abu Dhabi.

Under the deal, Royal Jet will manage the day-to-day running of Al Habtoor's Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft, for which Royal Jet itself carried out due diligence on its purchase, prepared the technical specifications and conducted the associated financial, commercial and technical reviews.

Al Habtoor Group chief executive officer Mohammed Al Habtoor and Royal Jet Group president & CEO Shane O'Hare signed the agreement at the Al Habtoor Group head office in Dubai.

Nizar Jazzar, vice president Aircraft Project Engineering and Business Development of Royal Jet group, Al Habtoor Group executive director Maan Halabi, chief investment officer Ala’a El Husseini and Group Chief Financial Officer Sanjeev Agarwala were also present.

At the signing ceremony, Al Habtoor spoke about the long standing relationship and the company's high regard for Royal Jet as an important partner.

“In 2008, Royal Jet acted as consultants on the purchase of our aircraft and negotiated the deal with us. Throughout the build, Royal Jet project management team led by Nizar Jazzar has also supervised production and consulted with the manufacturer, interior design and engineering teams.'

'As such, we are delighted that Royal Jet will manage the aircraft as well,' he remarked.

Royal Jet’s project management and acquisition team provides a tailored, comprehensive service from initial consultancy through to the acquisition, management and sale of aircraft – a ‘one-stop’ service which reduces overall costs for its clients, without compromising on quality or safety.

The Lineage 1000 is one of the latest and most technologically advanced business jets designed to seat up to 19 passengers.

With a range of 4,400 nautical miles – easily enough to fly directly from the UAE to London – it can fly an altitude of 41,000 ft. The 84 ft lavish interior divides into five separate zones which include a bedroom and shower.

Shane O'Hare said, “We are now able to offer guests the full range of aircraft capacity and prices right through from our Lear Jet 60 with 6 passengers to the largest fleet in the world of Boeing Business Jets. This enables our guests to manage their needs around the right capacity and price points for their requirements.”

'This arrangement brings together two of the most established UAE companies and we take great pride in the fact that Al Habtoor are continuing to work with us, ' Shane O'Hare added.

The delivery of Al Habtoor's Embraer is scheduled for August 1 later this year, the company said.-TradeArabia News Service