Research by the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has unveiled that Jordan is maintaining its positive year on year growth by 2.2%, giving it a Middle East market share of 6.5% in terms of total professionally operated flights.

Hamburg-based WINGX Advance, commissioned by MEBAA, provided an analysis of the regional industry, highlighting a mixed picture. Whilst the number of active and registered business jets has leveled off since 2000, with a CAGR of -0.1%, the number of operators has increased at an annual rate of 2.7%, reinforcing MEBAA predictions that the industry will be worth $1bn by 2020.

The research was conducted in the run up to the MEBAA Conference in Jordan, held on Tuesday (14th October) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman and under the patronage of the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission.

Keynote speaker, HE Capt. Mohammad Amin Al–Quran, Chief Commissioner/CEO Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, discussed how Jordan’s CAA is supporting business aviation and working with its Middle Eastern neighbours to improve access and flight planning. Bashir Abdel Hadi, Director of Royal Flight of Jordan, focused on safety management systems, whilst Marwan Atallah, CEO of Ayla Aviation academy, highlighted the pilot shortage facing business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa.

Speaking about the event, Chairman of MEBAA, Ali Al Naqbi said; “Jordan introduced business aviation into the Middle East when the first operator in the region began flying with support of the late King Hussein, who was keen to make Amman a business aviation center for the region.  Today Jordan is still making steady progress and is one of four countries whose industry has grown in the last year. Its renovation of Queen Alia Airport will only help provide improved infrastructure to support business aviation and we are delighted to be in Jordan to support and promote its progression.”

Ali Al Naqbi