Business Traveller (Middle East)
SOUTHERN WINDS
Premium private jets on display at Dubai South
Travelling out to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) exhibition is one of those Dubai-inmicrocosm journeys. You pass innumerable cranes at Expo 2020, busy building on-site and accompanying infrastructure, and then turn into one long treelined road (I remember when they were saplings) before you come to a roundabout where, on one one side is the new 145-room Aloft Dubai South and on the other, the entrance to Emaar South.
This is very much new Dubai, though one I suspect many residents don’t see, never mind visitors. The area remains a work in progress but it’s definitely gathering momentum and its profile will rise when more passengers pass through Al Maktoum International Airport in April, with DXB undergoing runway repairs, and in the next 12-to-18 months as the Expo publicity machine cranks up. The Aloft is a significant opening, a sign of things to come.
Later in the day I talk to Tahnoon Saif, CEO Aviation District, next to a vast plan which shows in detail the immediate district comprising general aviation, aerospace maintainence, education facilities and VIP Terminal, which opened late 2016. Next to it will be the Aviation One commercial complex.
The Flight Academy, with its own runway, has plans to expand and ExecuJet is building a multi-million dollar FBO and maintenance area.
For all its scale, this is just one part of Dubai South (formerly ‘Dubai World Central’). The whole area covers 145sq km and includes an 18-hole golf course – and it’s starting to diversify, as evidenced by the recent announcement for an ‘aquaculture’ fish farm.
“Around two-thirds of buildings relate to the aviation industry, either directly, or law and financial institutions, and the remaining part will leverage on VIPs passing through – we are looking at having high-end brand boutiques next year,” said the CEO.
My eye is drawn to two buildings near the main road, close to the Airshow exhibition site. “We are planning to have hotels near the
Airshow site – something in walkable distance. For business travellers, it will be convenient and in future we aren’t just talking about the MEBAA and Airshow, we want to have other shows, not necessarily related to aviation. If you’re coming overseas for business, there will be hotels nearby.”
Last year it handled 14,700 movements and it is anticipating slight growth this year, rising to 20,000 movements in 2020.
“We thought the plan would be 30 years plus, but with things happening here, we need to consider other areas within the next 15 years. We know that before 2020, high-level delegations will come and visit.”
This year’s show hosted 452 exhibitors – 24 for the first time – and 34 business jets on the exhibition area’s static display.
Ali Alnaqbi, Founding & Executive Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) said: “Resilience is the key word this year – we are seeing steady growth and positive signs despite a global slowdown and regional political issues.”
BOEING UNVEILS LUXURY B777X, AIRBUS PUSHES WIDE AND NARROWBODY JETS
The show took off in style with Boeing unveiling a business jet version of its B777X. The Boeing Business Jet 777X will fly half way around the world without stopping, further than any previous business jet ever built. The 777-8 offers the longest range of 11,645 nautical miles and a 3,256sq ft cabin while the -9 has a shorter range, 11,000 nautical miles, but larger 3,689sq ft cabin.
“Our most exclusive customers want to travel with the best space and comfort and fly directly to their destination,” said Boeing Business Jets head Greg Laxton. “The new BBJ 777X will be able to do this like no other aeroplane before it, redefining ultra-long range VIP travel.”
Boeing, which will be hoping the new model strikes a chord with Middle Eastern buyers, who account for 52 per cent of its twin-aisle sales, unveiled interior design concepts from Greenpoint Technologies, Jet Aviation, and Unique Aircraft Design at the show to display different options for VIP customers.
The range is an important allure for Heads of State and VVIPs, for whom time is always money, and vice versa.
But it remains to be seen if there is demand for vast cabins exceeding 3,200sq ft amid precarious global economic forecasts. The B777-9X is officially listed at $425.8 million but that’s before you tot up bespoke interior costs. Laxton said the market “ebbs and flows” and remains optimistic as overall GDP levels continue to grow globally.
Competitor Airbus is concentrating
more on its narrow-bodies and pushing its new A319/A320neo ACJ aircraft – more than 190 ACJs are now in service – though it displayed its 787 business jet, complete with shower, large lounge, 16 business class seats and it even has room for a treadmill near the back.
The ACJ319/320 neos feature new engines and wingtip-mounted Sharklets, enabling longer intercontinental flights at reduced operating costs.
The first aircraft, an ACJ320neo for Acropolis Aviation, successfully completed flight trials in November, and will be delivered for outfitting soon. It will join more than 500 A320neo Family aircraft that are already in service. A total of 11 ACJ320neo Family aircraft have been ordered to date, and other customers include Comlux and K5 Aviation.
STAY ONE CLICK AHEAD OF THE HACKERS
Visitors to Satcom Direct could watch ‘live hacks’ performed by experts from CogniSec Inc, the digital security testing company, demonstrating how vulnerable aviation networks can be to those with malicious intent.
Twice daily during the three-day event, experts showed loopholes in security systems and how easily they can be breached with the right software tools and knowledge.
Engin Basyurt, Business Development Director for Satcom Direct Middle East & Turkey, explained how his company helps business aviation avoid the threat of cyber security.
“We provide active threat monitoring as part of our suite of digital flight monitoring services. We have the technology to notice anything unusual on the network, whichever network you are using, and can alert the client however they wish.”
Business aviation can be especially susceptible as HNWIs and Heads of State are often prime targets.
“We are the gatekeepers, we protect people during flights from anything unusual by monitoring activity and simply blocking devices from accessing connectivity services. Data going in and out of aircraft is monitored by our system.”