Abu Dhabi-based Falcon Aviation has expanded its fixed-wing business in recent years to build its corporate and VIP charter operations and is looking to continue on that trajectory. The charter operator is looking for additional fixed-wing options, following delays to Bombardier’s new C Series, which it had hoped to take in a bizliner configuration.

“We are operating 35 aircraft: 20 helicopters and 15 fixed-wing,” said COO Raman Oberoi. Four of the business jets and three of the helicopters are managed. Falcon had a fleet of 25 aircraft, 21 of them helicopters, four years ago. Of the 20 helicopters, most operate mainly in offshore oil-and-gas and on charter.

Offshore helicopters face a growing threat from fast crew boats, as low oil prices force oil companies such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to pare costs. One Abu Dhabi boat manufacturer claimed this year that its vessels cost 80 percent less to run than helicopters; however, Oberoi pointed out that such vessels, unlike helicopters, cannot operate in all weather.

He said Gulf oil and gas clients are demanding more modern, technologically advanced aircraft, leading to gradual phase-out of the Bell 412EP. He said two of the helicopters were sold the day he met AIN. “We are an oil-support company. The technological requirements of the oil industry are changing, so we had to modernize the fleet. We had no option but to give our customers, Adnoc and Total, a new-technology helicopter, so we did that,” he said, referring to the AW169.

 “Falcon is the launch customer for the offshore [oil and gas] variant of [the AW169] with a firm contract with a leading oil company,” a 2015 company backgrounder said. Last year, Falcon introduced 19-seat AW189s and said it had plans to add two AW169s this year.

Changing Client Base

Oberoi said charter clients include royal families and wealthy individuals in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and the company is looking to develop more of that business. “The client base continues to change. We have more than 200 clients. We are trying to develop the Saudi and Indian markets, as well as Bahrain and Kuwait.” Two Legacy 600s, a Lineage 1000 and a G450 are on private charter. Oberoi also expects a Legacy 650 and a G550 and G450 to join the managed fleet this year.

Falcon has a business-jet MRO facility at Al Bateen Executive Airport and is in the process of building a completions center at DWC Al Maktoum International Airport.

A company official told AIN that Falcon is also building an FBO at DWC in Dubai. “Work is under way at the new Falcon FBO in Dubai South, [and] we have signed the contract to offer premium FBO services at the executive terminal and appointed interior designers. We are aiming to have the FBO complete by the end of July this year.”

Falcon offers VIP aircraft charters, aircraft management, and continuing airworthiness management organization (European Aviation Safety Agency). It is also an authorized service centre for Embraer business jets and Airbus Helicopter.

Falcon’s chairman and main shareholder, HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, is a member of the UAE’s Abu Dhabi royal family.

Airline Operations

Qazaq Air, a subsidiary of Kazakh sovereign wealth fund Samruk Kazyna, announced in July last year it had launched domestic service from a base in the capital, Astana, with three Bombardier Q400 twin turboprops leased from Falcon. Bombardier quoted airline officials as saying it would operate 12 domestic routes.

“Air Astana has a certain segment,” Oberoi said, “but Qazaq Air is supported by the President of Kazakhstan. The aircraft are out on ACMI lease. It’s in their name, but we do everything.”

In March last year Ghana’s Aero Surveys (dba Starbow Airlines) launched a service with a Q400 wet-leased from Falcon, one of six aircraft that Falcon ordered from Bombardier in 2014.