Jet Aviation’s expansion in the Middle East continues, highlighted by the recent grand opening of its new terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the company has had an FBO since 1983. The opening ceremony, held earlier this month, brought guests from 10 countries to the 32,292-sq-ft facility, which was developed as a joint venture with Saudi partners under the Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia banner.

Peter Edwards, chairman Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia, called the new facility “a tribute to our past and future success,” noting that the company executed almost 12,400 movements last year and is committed to “growing these numbers in coming years.” Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia also operates an FBO in Riyadh. Jet Aviation was the first foreign business aviation services company to have an FBO in Saudi Arabia, having established its Riyadh facility in 1979.

At EBACE, Jet Aviation also announced the appointment of Hardy Butschi as vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia, in charge of line maintenance at the company’s facilities in both Jeddah and Riyadh.

Jet Aviation Dubai also announced at EBACE a “substantial” increase in base maintenance certificates of return to service issued for the growing fleet of Embraer Legacy aircraft it maintains.

“As the only MRO network in EMEA and Asia offering line and base maintenance to Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 aircraft, this increased demand for Legacy base maintenance reflects our ability to provide quality maintenance support when and where customers require it,” said Christof Späth, senior vice president MRO & FBO services, EMEA and Asia.