RoyalJet, the name breathes luxury and exclusivity. True to its name, it is the choice of royals, celebrities and today’s business leaders across the region and beyond for their crucial business trips or flights of fancy.

Helming the world’s leading premium private aviation company affiliated with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi with a vision to be the global reference in premium private aviation is Mohammed Husain Ahmed.

Appointed CEO of RoyalJet in August this year, Ahmed is a visionary leader and is committed to delivering operational excellence and ensuring high standards of performance.

With proven management and organisational skills fostered in a military and civilian environment, he is an accomplished aviation expert with a solid history of achievement in the industry.

The company expects Ahmed to take it to the next level of growth. This is evident in the comments of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of RoyalJet, on Ahmed’s appointment. He said: “RoyalJet’s role in the UAE economy and regional aviation sector is well known and with Mohammed ’s expertise and experience we are at the dawn of another era of success and brilliance.”

In an exclusive interview with Arabian Knight, Ahmed says it is an incredible honour for him to lead an organisation dedicated to delivering the UAE and Abu Dhabi leadership’s vision to the world.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this pioneering and visionary organisation and look forward to driving RoyalJet to greater growth and success,” Ahmed says.

And his promise to clients is: “The RoyalJet mission is to deliver personalised services to each one of our guests, and we are committed to exceeding customer expectations at every step of their journey.”

With a 25-year-long history in the aviation industry across both the government and private sectors in the UAE, Ahmed is well armed to implement the company’s vision of delivering personalised delight to today’s leaders, projecting the values and identity of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

Prior to joining RoyalJet, Ahmed served as the General Manager of Abu Dhabi Airports, overseeing the planning, implementation and evaluation of the organisation’s programmes and services. He also supported in the development of a vision and strategic plan to guide the organisation, ensuring that it meets the expectations of its clients, board, and founders.

Previously, Ahmed worked at Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) for almost 12 years, where he served as the Vice President for Commercial and Government Affairs in the final phase of his service at the organisation.

Ahmed has a Bachelor’s degree in International Law from Al Ain University and is trained in air traffic control operations from the Airways Corporation of New Zealand.

With an eye for detail, and a far-reaching vision, Ahmed is a confident trainer, coach and mentor with the ability to deliver operational excellence and high standards of performance against operational and organisational goals and targets.

In addition to his role as CEO of RoyalJet, Ahmed is also a Board Member at the Abu Dhabi Government Flight-Testing Facility.

With its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, RoyalJet operates mainly from its Fixed Based Operations (FBO) / VIP Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the company and its employees hold multiple certifications and licences issued by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority.

RoyalJet, through its Abu Dhabi and Bermuda entities, owns and/or operates 12 Boeing Business Jets and three Bombardier Global 5000/6000 aircraft, offering aircraft management, aircraft charter, aircraft leasing, medical evacuation flights, aircraft brokerage, flight support services, FBO services, aircraft maintenance, repair and CAMO services, aircraft acquisition and disposal services and VIP aviation consulting.

RoyalJet is also a multiple winner of the “World’s Leading Private Jet Charter” category at the annual World Travel Awards and its FBO has won multiple awards for its facilities and services.

“RoyalJet is a very prestigious brand and our customers know that we will exceed their expectations every time they choose to travel with us – so that comes with our brand value,” asserts the new CEO.

Ahmed sees a high demand for private aviation in the next few years as people increasingly opt for private charters to save time and travel according to their tailored schedules and the UAE becoming a hub for businessmen, celebrities and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

So, what are Ahmed’s plans for RoyalJet? How is private aviation changing? What are the challenges? Ahmed answers all these questions in the interview.

Excerpts from the interview:

You have been newly appointed as the CEO, what is your vision and mission for the company?

I am delighted to have become a part of the RoyalJet family, after joining RoyalJet as CEO earlier this year. It is an incredible honour for me to lead an organisation dedicated to delivering the UAE and Abu Dhabi leadership’s vision to the world. The RoyalJet mission is to deliver personalised services to each one of our guests, and we are committed to exceeding customer expectations at every step of their journey.

Business aviation flourished during the Covid pandemic. How did RoyalJet fare and what are the plans for sustained growth?

2021 was marked as the busiest year for global business jet activity. The Middle East region alone showed some of the strongest growth in business jet demands, notably from the UAE, which was up by 73 per cent compared to 2019. The business aviation market in the Middle East maintained its growth momentum in 2022, with flights up by 47 per cent in May, when compared with the same period in 2019.

Since the recovery period last year, demand has exceeded supply in the premium aviation industry across the region. The overall health of the global private jet market has been going strong, and this growth is expected to reach greater heights in the coming months, especially with the increasing demand for private aviation within the GCC – this includes the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

What are the key changes you see post-Covid in business aviation?

Private jet charter companies have gained visibility during lockdowns by being one of the few air transport solutions available during the time. So now this form of air travel is gaining popularity.

What are the major business aviation developments in the region?

The GCC is one of the most prospective markets for business aviation because of the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the region. Foreign charter providers are trying to enter the market, making the market more competitive. Companies are focusing on embracing technology, and this is expected to further drive their growth. The demand for new business jet models that offer more cabin space and long-range is increasing in the GCC countries.

What are the strengths of RoyalJet in the market?

As part of our commitment to creating tailored journeys for our passengers, RoyalJet recently added a new Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to its fleet, meaning we now own and operate 12 BBJs making RoyalJet the largest BBJ operator in the world. The new aircraft is the longest-range BBJ in RoyalJet fleet and can fly non-stop for more than 12 hours and reach almost any destination globally with only one short fuel stop. The cabin boasts state-of-the-art amenities and entertainment options, designed to provide endless moments of delight to our guests.

What do your clients seek in RoyalJet and how are the requirements changing in the industry?

The ability to travel on your own schedule, access airports around the world, have the privacy of your own aircraft, eliminate long airport lines, and have significant time savings all contribute to the overall value of utilising private charter. Besides this, RoyalJet is a very prestigious brand and our customers know that we will exceed their expectations every time they choose to travel with us – so that comes with our brand value.

The UAE’s leadership has committed itself to support tourism and global trade by investing in building a strong logistics sector. In line with their vision, we are actively looking to expand our operations by adding more aircraft to our fleet to serve our premium clientele. Adding the new BBJ is a step in that direction.

Consumer behaviour has slightly changed with last-minute bookings coming in more frequently than what the industry is used to receiving.

What are the next challenges of this industry?

As demand for private flights increases, the industry must revolutionise and adopt digital technology, which is already available in the market. Additionally, ‘empty legs’ remain a lost opportunity, while the flight request and bidding processes remain slow. If the industry were to regularly harness even a percentage of ‘empty legs’, it could be a vital step towards greater sustainability.

Please comment on sustainability initiatives in the sector.

Our position in the private aviation market comes with the responsibility to drive awareness about and encourage action for important issues industrywide. As a leader in private aviation, we are fully committed to reducing the environmental footprint and we are in the process of launching initiatives that will further demonstrate our commitment towards this cause.

What is the growth you see for RoyalJet and for the sector in the next few years?

Without a doubt, there is high demand for private aviation, and this will grow in the next few years – as people increasingly opt for private charters to save time and travel according to their tailored schedules. We see a certain growth in this sector, especially in the region. The UAE is becoming a hub for businessmen and celebrities and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and we understand that there will be a growing need in the next few years to fly private. In addition to providing the best premium private aircraft in the world, we aim to deliver the highest levels of service to our guests every time they fly.

Are you taking part in the MEBAA show? If yes, what are you showcasing there and how important is the show for you?

We are taking part in the MEBAA Air Show – our new aircraft will be on display at the event and our representatives will be present on-site. I think taking part in MEBAA is important to us because it will bring together the business aviation and private charter industry in the MENA region and act as a platform for industry experts to network and exchange knowledge and expertise.