Sharjah Airport Authority has signed two deals with Gama Support Services, firstly for the construction and operation of a new private jet terminal at Sharjah International Airport in the UAE; and secondly, granting Gama the right to provide ground handling services to business jet owners, business jets, and crew members at the terminal.
The AED110m (US$30m), 40,000m² terminal to be built at Sharjah International will feature two private jet hangars with a capacity for two large BBJs each, as well as a state-of-the-art terminal for jet owners and crew members. The terminal will include resting areas, lounges and duty-free shops.
The project will also include an aircraft fuelling unit, aircraft parking apron for business jets, and car parking spaces for terminal users and guests. Construction will commence shortly after the completion of designs and studies and once the official approvals have been obtained, Sharjah Airport Authority said.
H E Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said, “Our new partnership with Gama will add to our ability to provide the highest level of services to our customers in the private and business jet industry.
“This partnership is an important step in the process of developing the private aviation industry in the Emirate of Sharjah, by providing more exceptional facilities and services to jet owners who use their private jets to travel around the world.”
Richard Lineveldt, general manager MENA, Gama Aviation, said, “This agreement with Sharjah Airport Authority will strengthen the company’s presence in the region. Gama Aviation took over the responsibility for handling all business travelers at Sharjah International Airport in early 2012, but the company has been present in Sharjah as a charter operator since 2006.
“Gama Aviation has established a successful relationship with the aviation sector, which has been further enhanced by the resounding success of its new fixed-based operation (FBO) at Sharjah”.
The project is currently being designed to meet international operational standards to ensure maximum convenience for business jet travelers.
The agreements are part of Sharjah Airport Authority’s strategy to develop the general aviation industry in order to accommodate the increasing growth of this industry in the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah.
