Gama Aviation (GMA, Farnborough) is in the process of setting up a subsidiary in Jeddah International, Saudi Arabia which would provide aircraft management services to smaller business aircraft owners in the country, managing director of the company's Middle Eastern division Richard Lineveldt has told the ArabianIndustry.com portal.
The Saudi subsidiary has already been set up but has yet to receive clearance to begin operations. Gama Aviation is working closely with the local General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) to complete the process.
Lineveldt explained that following recent changes in Saudi legislation, individual management of business aircraft has become more cumbersome and that in itself presents a market opportunity for Gama Aviation. Initially, the company will only manage air operations but may expand to ground services and other segments later.
At the same time, the company plans to expand its already well-established presence in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates through Gama Aviation (UAE). It is investing USD30 million in a new executive terminal at the airport where it provides both ground and air services to other operators. The new facility is expected to open in the first quarter of 2019. Gama Aviation is also expanding air ambulance services out of the Emirate airport, launched in mid-2017.
