Gama Aviation today unveiled plans for its major new business aviation facility at Sharjah International Airport. The development, which is due to open in mid-2018, will offer an alternative to congested Dubai International Airport (DXB) and closer access to the center of Dubai than Dubai World Central (DWC).

The UK-based group will today reveal architectural drawings for a purpose-built complex that will offer space for commercial tenants as well as passengers and crew of its own aircraft management and charter operations. Billed as the first integrated facility of its type in Sharjah, the new facility will consist of a 100-meter-long (328-feet) hangar (with an option for a second), plus 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) of apron parking space.

Over the past 12 months, Gama, which also provides maintenance services, has seen a 12 percent increase in the volume of traffic it handles at its existing Sharjah operation. It says this is due to slot restrictions at DXB and also the fact that Sharjah is significantly closer to Dubai’s financial district than DWC.

Gama’s aircraft management and charter business has increased by around a third over the past year. This is partly explained by the addition of new aircraft to its fleet, including a Bombardier Learjet 60 and a Piaggio Avanti Evo, which have joined its existing heavy and ultra-long-range aircraft.

“We have made excellent progress this year [with] our air business growing the fleet by 33 percent and the ground business benefiting from increased traffic and an adjusted pricing model,” Gama Aviation general manager Martin Ringrose. “So to close the year at MEBAA with our concept for Sharjah is exciting. As the model, movie and renderings [viewable at the company’s exhibit in Chalet P8] show, we’ll have an outstanding facility that mirrors the high standard of our existing lounge. With ground works starting shortly, that reality will not be so very far away.”

Global Growth

Gama Aviation has continued to spread its reach around the world over the past couple of years. Beyond the Middle East and Europe, it is preparing to add three more aircraft to its operation in Hong Kong.

The company has also added an FBO in Jersey in the Channel Islands, and in the U.S. it continues to expand, particularly with its contract to operate King Airs for private aviation membership program Wheels up.

“For us, the U.S. has been a good growth market. Wheels Up is evidence of that, but we mustn’t lose sight of the success in our core management business, particularly in the U.S.,” said co-founder and CEO Marwan Khalek. “Europe remains flat, but the maintenance side is still pretty good. And it’s pleasing that we’re seeing movement in the Far East and Middle East now.” He said that managing aircraft for owners and using them for charter remains a robust and popular business model, “particularly in places like Sharjah.”

On prospects for Wheels Up to expand into Europe, Khalek said, “It is very much on the horizon and we’re putting in place a complex plan for when they decide it’ll happen.” He suggested that the only reason it hasn’t happened already was the amount of resources being used for growth in the U.S.

Further afield, Khalek reported that Gama is set to relaunch operations in Africa. He believes the group can achieve further growth through a mix of organic expansion and acquistions. In his view, the fragmented industry needs further consolidation and Gama has a list of possible targets.