Al Bateen's DhabiJet tops big names in EBAN reader survey:Highest ranked FBO in the Middle East

Thursday 9th February 2012

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Al Bateen Executive Airport, operated and managed by Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), has entered the ranks of best Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) in the prestigious European Business Air News FBO Survey 2012.

The magazine's aircraft owner readers, voting online and via printed questionnaire, put Al Bateen's DhabiJet FBO at number four, making it the highest ranked FBO in the Middle East - one of just two FBOs in the Middle East to make the top five and ahead of many bigger, and long established international brands.

"Abu Dhabi Airports Company is proud that DhabiJet, within its first year of operation, has entered the premier league of FBO operators. This is a ringing endorsement for the investment ADAC has made and the commitment the FBO team has made to enhance its services and facilities for flight crew," said Mohammed Al Bulooki, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

Every EBAN reader of qualified aircraft operators has the opportunity to vote for their favorite FBOs from March 2011 to January 2012 and award them points for their facilities, services, staff and value for money. Each reader is provided with a personalized web page. Alternatively, they can cast votes via survey forms included in the magazine from September. The magazine asks for a score of nine from each of four categories to determine the average.

"Congratulations to Al Bateen Executive and DhabiJet which has gone straight in to our top 5 best FBOs at No 4," said EBAN publisher David Wright. It is especially pleasing to see some of the recently established FBOs being recognized for their quality of service by our readers in this, our 20th year of running this popular survey. Good infrastructure, meeting customers' needs and providing highly trained and motivated people are the key attributes of our top FBOs."

The top 10 EMEA region FBOs securing the top spots this year are:

FBO and Location:

1---Aiglle Flight Support: Guernsey2--Eccelsa Aviation: Olbia (Costa Smeralda)3--Inflite The Jet Centre: London (Stansted)4--DhabiJet: Abu Dhabi (Al Bateen Executive)5--Biggin Hill Executive Handling: London (Biggin Hill)6--Landmark Aviation: Nice/Cote d'Azur7--ExecuJet Europe: Zurich8--KLM Jet Center Amsterdam: Amsterdam (Schiphol)9--ExecuJet Aviation Group - Advanced Air Support: Paris (Le Bourget)10--ExecuJet Europe: Berlin (Schoenefeld)

The results of the EBAN survey are in line with Al Bateen's own findings on the level of satisfaction of its customers. A recent in-house survey was conducted whereby visiting Crew and VIP passengers ranked DhabiJet's services 9.28 / 10 in overall satisfaction.

Al Bateen's accomplishment follows a record year which saw an 11% increase in overall commercial aviation movements compared with 2010 and more than 50% increase in visiting business aviation traffic, registering 8,775 commercial aircraft movements during 2011. The airport attracted 124 new first time international business aviation customers too, bolstering its reputation as the preferred business aviation destination or stop over in the Middle East.

"The business aviation market is an important element of Abu Dhabi's air transport strategy and by establishing an airport dedicated to business aviation, ADAC takes an important step forward in regional leadership of this sector and in reinforcing the credentials of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as the region's premier venue for private aviation. ADAC is committed to providing the highest level of services of all its airports by constantly developing and enhancing its offerings." concluded Al Bulooki.

Al Bateen Executive's DhabiJet serves all the requirements of its dedicated business aviation clientele under the management and co-ordination of a single, highly trained DhabiJet customer service team. Its range of services include meet and greet, fuel, cabin cleaning, catering and limousine services. A modern two-storey crew lounge, inaugurated in November, is now fully operational.

The new facility combines work areas to carry out crew briefings and flight planning, lounge areas to entertain and relax. The top floor is occupied by Al Bateen's flight operations department and a briefing room. The ground floor is entirely dedicated to crew, featuring a lounge area with satellite TV, snooze room, work station, meeting room, pantry, shower facility and a prayer room.

For more information, please visit: www.bateenairport.com

About Al Bateen Executive Airport:

Al Bateen Executive Airport is a dedicated business jet airport, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region; conveniently located only a five kilometres from the central business district of Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital. The downtown location of Al Bateen Executive Airport makes it ideal for users of business jets, whose time is valuable and who have a high-regard for the convenience that personalised jet travel can bring. Benefits:

• Only dedicated private aviation airport in the region
• Fast & efficient turnarounds
• Ideal location in the city centre close to central business district
• Over 90 parking/maintenance spaces in hangars for different aircraft sizes + 20 apron parking stands
• Business Campus - full business traveller facilities and stand-alone offices
• One-stop-shop Business Jet Specialists
• Fuel, handling, and other FBO services
• Air Taxis
• Vendor/Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) access
• Related aviation business access
• Aviation education and training

About DhabiJet:

DhabiJet was launched at EBACE Geneva in May 2011 and is now Al Bateen's dedicated FBO handler. Along with the existing world class VIP Lounges DhabiJet also has a brand Crew Centre and a state of the art integrated Flight Ops Centre. The world class facilities are supplemented by a highly experienced team who are committed to ensuring that with one call all charter operators needs are catered for including flight catering, hotels, limousines, airside handling requirements, immigration and customs are all handled with maximum speed and efficiency.

About Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC):

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Amiri Decree number 5, issued on 4 March 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure.

In September 2006, ADAC assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports. In 2008, ADAC added Al Bateen Executive Airport (an exclusive private aviation airport), and Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island Airports to its portfolio. These airports are geared to serve the various segments of air travellers, the aviation marketplace, and will help contribute to Abu Dhabi's development as a destination for both business and leisure tourism.

Currently under way is the multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 20 million passengers per year. As part of this redevelopment, a second runway and a third terminal have been completed.

Picture Caption (l-r)

Mohamed Shafi, Porter; Pauline Smith, Senior FBO Manager; Marife Diasnes, Operations; Sanil Kumar, Ramp Dispatcher; Marios Belidis, Business Development Manager; Jonalyn Codizal, Senior Waitress; Jalal Mohamed, Duty Officer; Zubaida Al Alawi, Administrative Assistant.

(hi-res images available on request)

For more information, please visit:www.bateenairport.comwww.adac.aewww.adacmediacentre.com