Royal Jet, Abu Dhabi’s luxury air charter operator, is expected to formally announce what it called a ‘significant partnership’ on Day One of the MEBA 2014 Airshow.

As the operator of the world’s largest BBJ fleet (based on the Boeing 737), speculation has continued to mount over whether the VIP charter operator will continue to be a Boeing operator, since for some months the board has been expected to make an announcement on a major fleet replacement program, due for completion in 2020.

Company officials who spoke to AIN in the past six months did not rule out the possibility that major orders could be placed with Airbus or Bombardier, although a Royal Jet board member told AIN last year that Boeing was still the likely candidate.

A change at the helm at the company complicated the orders when it was announced on 23 October that Capt. W. Patrick Gordon had been appointed as acting president and CEO of Royal Jet (Chalet A4/A5). On November 23, Etihad Airways announced the appointment of former Royal Jet CEO, Shane O’Hare, as its senior vice president, marketing.

In his last interview with AIN, on September 15, O’Hare said that Royal Jet was giving the Bombardier option a serious look. “We think the CSeries is a very interesting aircraft. It is a brand-new technology from the ground up. That’s what’s exciting for us. And we’re thinking 12 years out. Of course it’s a serious contender,” said O’Hare.

However, he added, “All operators who are going to make major commitments to new technology are cautious these days. They have to be. It’s a big investment.”

Royal Jet’s chief commercial officer, Fahad Wali, told AIN in July that the replacement of six existing BBJs with seven new bizliners, as well as light and midsize replacements, would likely take place in December. He said he expected the fleet to grow to 11 aircraft from a current 10. O’Hare told AIN in late February at Abu Dhabi Air Expo that he expected the orders to be completed by July.