Austria-based International Jet Management (IJM) and Bahrain-based MAE Aircraft Management, a subsidiary of MENA Aerospace Enterprises, have entered into a joint venture in the Kingdom of Bahrain. MAE is based at Bahrain International airport, and holds a Bahraini AOC. The joint venture will promote, sell and coordinate vip and corporate travel on chartered business jets.

The cooperation allows IJM to further develop its business in the Middle East alongside an established player with an existing infrastructure and network. The objective is to expand the aircraft management business and to cater to the regional business jet charter market.

IJM founder and ceo Felix Feller says: “The cooperation with MENA Aerospace is the next step in our strategic and measured expansion. We believe there is a huge demand for aircraft management and charter solutions that are tailored to the growing Middle Eastern market. The know-how and experience of IJM in providing these services, combined with MENA Aerospace's regional infrastructure, local insight and business network, will allow us to achieve mutual growth.”

The operator's Austrian AOC will be not affected by this new partnership. MENA md Mohamed Juman adds: “We are excited to implement this joint venture and offer the region superior private aviation solutions. We see our customers benefiting from the best of both worlds; an experienced European aircraft management and charter service provider partnering with a mature, well-developed aviation services provider with regional presence. We are also very eager to provide technical support to the venture and hangarage.”

The partnership is to operate under the name of IJM MENA.