THE Middle East Business Aviation 2008 (MEBA) show held in Dubai last month ended with new orders worth $90 million and industry insiders predicting that the executive charter industry may well weather the current global financial storm.
A total of more than $1.5 billion worth of deals were announced at the three day event whilemany partnerships were struck between Western and Middle Eastern companies.
Ali Al Naqbi, founding chairman, Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), the organisation behind MEBA, said he was now looking forward to the 2010 edition of the show. He said,”After all the deals and announcements we have seen at MEBA 2008, we can be assured that the market is growing and that there is plenty of confidence out there.”
The gains made during this year’s event would provide a solid platform for 2010, Al Naqbi said.
“We will be relocating to the purpose built site at Dubai World Central for the next edition and are very confident that this event’s momentum will carry on so that in two years’ time we will see an even bigger and better show.”
In one of MEBA’s final announcements, Cessna agent, Captain Saad Wallan of Wallan Aviation, confirmed sales of three Cessna Columbus, a Cessna Citation, a Cessna Caravan and two used Cessna CJs worth $90 million, before the close of the event.
More good news came from Project Phoenix and its distributor Action Aviation, after Egyptian film star and producer, Yousef Mansour, became the company’s first Middle Eastern customer, taking on a Phoenix CRJ which will be used to fly Mansour and his crews on location.
MEBA 2008 was triple the size of the 2007 edition and showcased more than 70 aircraft worth $1.6bn on its dedicated static park. Two hundred and fifty exhibitors from 30 countries attended the three day event.