UAS International Trip Support is moving into business aircraft sales and management to expand its services for private charter clients. The Dubai-based group, which provides ground support for operators in 31 locations worldwide, announced on Thursday that it launched a managed fleet with the arrival of a Bombardier Global Express.

The ultra-long-range twinjet, which can seat up to 12 passengers, is based at Sharjah International Airport and is available for flight bookings through the UAS charter division. According to the company, a “charter boom” in the Middle East has inspired it to step up its activity in this area, and the Global Express will be able to reach destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa nonstop.

France-based global energy conglomerate TotalEnergies has signed a joint development and cost-sharing agreement with Saudi government-owned petroleum producer Aramco and Saudi Investment Recycling Company to assess the development of a sustainable aviation fuel production facility in Saudi Arabia.

The move was announced last week during a visit to the country by French President Emmanuel Macron, which also celebrated the 50th anniversary of TotalEnergies’ operations in Saudi Arabia.

Over the past 12 months, Empire Aviation has added four aircraft to a managed fleet now consisting of 25 business jets. Last week, the Dubai-based company also announced plans to develop a new facility next to the main VIP terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport.

According to Empire, it is seeing growing demand for aircraft management, charter, and sales services, in addition to its work as a continuous airworthiness management organization. Around one-third of its managed fleet is now available for charter.

Planners at Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) are moving ahead with a new business aviation strategy launched at the Future Aviation Forum in May. However, calls for decreasing jet size to spur a dramatic increase in particularly domestic charter availability continue to reverberate around the expansive country.

Over the past six months, regional and international expressions of interest have been coming in and, in some cases, agreements have already been signed. Most immediately, there will be substantial investment opportunities for infrastructure funds, airport operators, aircraft operators, FBOs, and MROs, according to GACA’s blueprint.