Online Interview: Eliska Hill, Chapman Freeborn

Chapman Freeborn general manager Eliska Hill says the air charter business is changing

Firstly, can you provide some company background?

The company was established in 1973 and we provide air charter solutions for the movement of both passengers and cargo.

How do you see the company expanding in the UAE over the next five years?

We have only been developing the passenger services side of the business over the last couple of years and for the past year we have been focusing on VIP services. We haven’t touched on the VIP side previously but already this is the area which has developed the most.

Is the VIP market specific to this region?

Yes, very much so. When I was first here almost five years ago we had hardly any operators based here. People weren’t flying in and out as much and there wasn’t the demand for integral flights, so the concept of chartering an airplane was seen as being done by only the very rich.

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Now the whole mindset has changed. In a similar way to European executives, people in this region see time as money. The hotel industry has also contributed to this market as executives fly from one hotel to another all in the same day.

The type of aircraft used has changed as well. These days, airplanes such as Piaggios are used more as they are a quick means of air travel.

 How do you see the business aviation market developing over the years?

In five years time we may be faced with a situation where there are too many aircraft based here and the market will be unable to cope. I think this could be very likely as many airlines have pumped money into buying new aircraft.

They saw dollar signs as the business began to boom and we have constantly seen new aircraft arriving.

This is ok, but it’s a case of now that the economy has turned a little  will the demand be there and will the new entrants survive depending on what the demands are? If there are enough regular hours and regular clients then the market will remain viable.