Qatar Executive has started work to design and build an FBO at the New Doha International airport, which is due to open in 2012. "This will be one of the most advanced and prestigious facilities of its kind anywhere in the world," the company says.

Qatar Executive has already significantly invested into its infrastructure at the existing airport, in the form of a dedicated 6,400 sq m hangar for maintenance operations which serves Qatar Executive as well as other carriers and has been selected by Bombardier to become its approved service facility in the Middle East for Challenger 605s and Globals.

The current airport comprises a runway parallel to the seafront, and the new airport is being constructed on land reclaimed from the sea alongside.

During the summer, Qatar Executive added three new Bombardier aircraft to its fleet, comprising a Global Express XRS, a Global 5000 and a Challenger 605. The company says this is the youngest fleet of business aircraft in the Gulf, with an average age of just one year.

Together with Doha International Airport's ground handling agent QAS, Qatar Executive offers a full suite of services to visiting private and corporate jets including vip meet and greet and executive ground handling services, fuel arrangements, parking, hangaring and aircraft cleaning.

"There is a natural synergy for Qatar Airways to transfer its First and Business Class passengers, who plan to connect from the commercial airline's network to remote destinations, onto its private jet service," says Qatar Airways ceo Akbar Al Baker. "This is a market we are progressively tapping into, and distinguishes our service significantly from other operators."

On the division's further growth plans, he adds: "Looking to the future, we will expand into existing markets like Russia and other high-demand European countries, as well as the rapidly emerging markets of Asia."