Gama Aviation is promoting its new FBO at Sharjah International Airport (OMSJ) as a useful technical stop for long-haul flights between Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Exhibiting at the Business Aviation Asia Forum & Expo in Singapore this week, the company confirmed that the new facility, which includes a terminal building and hangar, will open later this year.

According to Gama, the new FBO in the UAE can operate around the clock with no slot restrictions. As such, the company said Sharjah is an attractive alternative to nearby Dubai International Airport (OMDB), where business aircraft operators now face difficulties getting slots. The airport is around a 30-minute drive from downtown Dubai.

Gama said its staff will be able to support quick turnarounds between flights of just 30 to 40 minutes, and the new facility is only a few minutes of taxi time away from the runway. The new facility’s hangar will be able to accommodate aircraft up to the size of Airbus Corporate Jets and Boeing Business Jets, with licensed engineers on hand to provide line maintenance support for some models.

“Our Sharjah FBO is already accommodating a growing volume of Asian operators seeking efficiency and convenience,” said Tom Murphy, managing director of FBO services at Gama. The company has been operating there for the past 10 years.

UK-based Gama is also preparing to start construction of a new FBO at Jersey Airport (EGJJ) in the Channel Islands. The business aviation services group, which also has extensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul capability as well as aircraft charter and management operations, has another FBO at Glasgow International Airport (EGPF) in Scotland.