Dubai-based UAS International Trip Support (Booth H214) announced here at ABACE 2014 an enhancement of its services and presence across Africa, aimed at bridging a trip support gap between China and Africa. UAS recently opened a new continental headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and regional offices in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya.

UAS already has a strong presence in China, handling 25 to 50 operations per day into and out of the country, according to Mohammed Husary, UAS co-founder & executive president, and that presence will soon be expanded. “Part of our growth plan is to have a regional headquarters in China by 2015, similar to what we have in Houston and now Johannesburg,” he said.

The support enhancement is in response to the strengthening economic ties between what are said to be the two fastest growing business jet markets, China and Africa, the latter linked primarily to the growth of business aviation activity in Nigeria.

In meeting the needs of clients, Husary noted that UAS agents and representatives speak the local languages, are in constant contact with local authorities and vendors, and “are ready for anything.”

UAS handled more than 7,000 flights in Africa last year, Husary said, and recorded 13-percent growth in support requests for flights to the region originating in China. The company anticipates additional 10-percent growth in such requests this year.