Gama Aviation targets business passengers with expansion in Sharjah

Gama Aviation, an executive air charter company, is expanding its hangar and building its own business jet terminal at Sharjah International Airport.

With its US$15 million investment in Sharjah, Gama is keen to attract business passengers who need to get to the northern emirates quickly.

The move comes as Dubai International Airport is restricting slots for private jets during a runway closure and the start-up of Dubai World Central.

“We are saying to people if you are using a business aircraft, now you have an alternative,” said Marwan Khalek, the chief executive of Gama Aviation. “If Dubai International is not the most convenient location for you and you feel geographically this is a better option for you, then don’t be put off by coming from here .

“The main benefit that people derive from business aviation is to save time. That’s really our biggest unique selling point.

“Sharjah airport being a smaller airport, the traffic volumes are less busy than other airports. What people are interested in is the door-to-door time,” he added.

Behind the scenes, Gama is also expanding its hangar at Sharjah airport. The hangar is to include a maintenance facility and extra capacity for aircraft storage.

“The most important thing that you will see is the development of our hangar facility, which we have the plot of land agreed with the airport,” said Mr Halek. “We will be breaking ground sometime within the second half of this year. We expect this hangar to be operational within the second half of next year.”

Gama started operations in Sharjah in 2012.

selgazzar@thenational.ae

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