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Under the patronage of Eng. Nader Dahabi, Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special economic Zone Authority, The Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) signed an agreement with the Jordanian Private Jets Services (JPJETS), according to which JPJETS will establish and develop a new terminal, exclusively for private jets, at Aqaba's King Hussein International Airport (KHIA).
The terminal will be the first of its kind in the Kingdom and the fourth in the Middle East owned by a private institution, providing high quality services for private jets including departure and arrival lounges, a crew lounge and staff offices, as well as ground handling services for private jets and their passengers.
The project will be completed in one year and will be constructed on 6000 m² of rented land at a cost of US$43 million, which will include a 500 m² two-floor building and ground handling equipment at a cost of US$2.5 million. The remaining parcel of land will be allotted as parking areas for executive jets.
According to the agreement, JPJETS will also purchase three modern jets at a total cost of US$40.5 million-- US$20.5 million for the Challenger 604, which is expected to be delivered in two months, US$12.2 million for the Hawker 800 XP, expected to be delivered early 2008 and US$7.8 million for the Grob SP, which is expected to be delivered in 2009.
Eng. Emad Fakhoury, ADC Chairman and CEO said, "This agreement is a result of ADC's ongoing efforts to implement the ASEZ master plan that will develop the King Hussein International Airport and then promote it as a major regional logistics and multi-modal facility, providing Aqaba's visitors with comprehensive high quality services."
He went on to say, "We will continue with our efforts to develop Aqaba into a tourist and investment destination as well as a logistics hub for the region. We will also work hard to implement all our plans to ensure Aqaba is transformed into a leading business and leisure hub on the Red Sea."
Highlighting the importance of the project, JPJETS CEO Mr. Nader Manna'a said, "The establishment and development of a private jet terminal at KHIA is significant for several reasons, but most importantly, it is the first of its kind in Jordan, providing Aqaba's businessmen, tourists and visitors with much-needed services that will contribute in transforming Aqaba into an international tourism and business destination. We will also be establishing a Fixed Base Operation (FBO) within the terminal that should be ready in the next couple of years."
He added: "This agreement with ADC comes as part of our objectives to begin expanding our business, and Aqaba is our primary destination. JPJETS believes that it is a national responsibility to promote KHIA regionally and internationally in order to implement the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II."
In addition to the King Hussein International Airport, JPJETS also provides its services at the Amman Civil Airport in Marka and the Queen Alia International Airport, which include supervising ground handling services in cooperation with Royal Jordanian, and rental services for private jets. JPJETS currently operates and manages eight private jets in the Middle East and Europe.
ADC owns and maintains the development and management rights for the strategic assets in ASEZ including KHIA, which is currently adopting an open skies policy. ADC has also prepared a master plan to develop KHIA for the next thirty years, and further developments will take place to increase the Airport's capacity in order to accommodate larger planes and receive more regional and international flights. Furthermore, an air cargo facility has been established to ensure Aqaba becomes the transport and logistics gateway into the entire Middle East region.
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