Empire Aviation delivering private aviation service excellence in the UAE

Delivering private aviation service excellence in the UAE

Empire Aviation Group - Dubai, India, Nigeria, USA, San Marino, Egypt and Indonesia

Paras P. Dhamecha,

Founder & Managing Director Empire Aviation Group

There is simply no substitute for experience in the world of private aviation, where the technical expertise to manage and operate a business jet is critical to providing owners with the benefits of the ultimate luxury – the freedom of your own private jet. Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group operates a managed fleet of 22 aircraft with business jets from major global manufacturers. The company supports aircraft owners by providing them with a one-stop-shop approach to managing and operating their aircraft. Today, Empire operates in every continent, introducing innovative business aviation services to customers. Since its launch, Empire Aviation has inducted over 70 aircraft into the fleet, including business jets, helicopters, seaplanes, air ambulances and super-sized corporate jets. A private jet is arguably one of life’s ultimate luxuries – as well as a convenient business tool. It offers the pleasures of freedom and privacy to companies and individuals. It’s much more than simply buying and flying – it’s a high-value asset that demands a complete and transparent financial model of aircraft ownership and management. Investing in and owning sophisticated aviation technology means a trusted adviser as a guide is essential.

The art of aircraft management

Managing and operating an aircraft

demands the skills to ensure the aircraft asset has continuous professional care to protect its value. Private aviation is a world that you can only navigate safely and confidently with a trusted partner. “Successful aircraft owner-manager relationships are built on trust, openness and transparency,” says Paras P. Dhamecha, Founder and Managing Director at Empire Aviation Group. “Since 2007, we have been working diligently to earn the confidence of owners as we manage and operate these valuable assets on their behalf, ensuring that they enjoy the privacy, safety, comfort and convenience of private aviation.” Empire Aviation manages a diverse portfolio of aircraft operating from the UAE, India, Africa and Indonesia and a dedicated aircraft sales operation in the US. Critically, the company continues to benefit from the UAE’s position as an international aviation hub with worldclass infrastructure and facilities for private aircraft and charter passengers, providing a base for global expansion. Today, the company operates one of the Middle East’s largest managed fleets of business jets, with aircraft based in international locations.

In addition to its headquarters in Dubai, Empire also established branch offices in India and San Marino and aircraft sales representatives based in the US, supporting its operations into several key regions for private aviation. The company holds AOCs (Air Operator Certificates) in the UAE and San Marino, an NSOP in India, and private operations approved in the Cayman Islands.

Asset management approach

Empire Aviation Group has a highly personalised approach to aircraft asset management, supporting owners with a unique business model. Empire Aviation can provide owners with flexible options when deciding where to base their aircraft, with a choice of three aircraft registries in the UAE, San Marino and India, and private registries including Cayman Islands and Isle of Man and a sales office in the USA. Empire Aviation completes CAMO approvals for all of the aircraft on their management fleet. The team provides all the major services associated with private aviation – aircraft management, flight operations and charter, and aircraft sales and CAMO. It’s the integration of these comprehensive services and the team’s expertise that enables Empire Aviation to provide a high degree of personalised services. The group continues to scale the model globally to create greater access to private aviation services worldwide. Several of the managed private jets on the fleet are available to the charter market and comprise aircraft of different types and cabin configurations. Empire has seen high double-digit growth both in sales and charter, since global travel shifted focus to private travel, in part due to the perception of safer travel spaces. Working in partnership with some of the world’s leading providers of luxury travel services and experiences, Empire Aviation and its partners can combine end-to-end luxury and privacy on the ground and at the destination. The company has a clear focus on aircraft sales and acquisitions as global demand for business jets increases, driven by the current international travel restrictions and the growing appreciation of the privacy, freedom and controlled environment offered by private aviation. Demand continues to outstrip the supply of high-quality aircraft. Still, Empire Aviation has several transactions in the pipeline and was recently involved in a Gulfstream acquisition for an owner based in India, joining the company’s fleet aircraft available to the charter market.

India – a private aviation opportunity

India is developing into a significant part of Empire Aviation’s charter business and aircraft acquisitions. The team is currently working on several transactions for aircraft to join the managed fleet. India is a growing and important market for General and Business Aviation services. Since its launch, Empire Aviation has provided aircraft sales, aircraft management, and charter management services to private aircraft owners worldwide, including India. Most recently, the company was appointed by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream – one of the world’s leading business aircraft manufacturers) as the authorised Independent Sales Representative (ISR) for India. Under this agreement, Empire Aviation Group will be responsible for promoting and supporting Gulfstream business jet transactions. Empire Aviation is very optimistic about the prospects for business aviation in this market as more companies expand their operations domestically and internationally. It believes it can help fill a gap and meet the demand for professional aircraft management services for aircraft owners and customers in managing all aspects of their aviation assets so they can enjoy all the benefits associated with owning an aircraft. As Paras Dhamecha says: “India represents a significant part of our charter business at the moment, as we fly Indian businesspeople to – literally - everywhere in the world, within current restrictions. Beyond charter, there’s a growing interest in aircraft acquisition and we are currently working on several transactions with clients who are either selling to replace aircraft or buying new planes. “

Experience and expertise

The entire team is dedicated to supporting aircraft owners with a very high degree of personalised services as part of the asset management approach. Empire expands its operations with new aircraft coming onto the managed fleet. It has also enhanced the aircraft ownership experience by adding new service offerings. The successful and award-winning aircraft management service has been built on close personal working relationships with owners to develop a high degree of personal trust, openness and transparency. The team builds this trust and manages expectations by looking after every operational and maintenance detail of their aircraft. This

Image: Courtesy of Soneva Fushi

includes negotiating all contract services with supplier companies and tracking all costs to ensure owners are receiving the best deals with open books at all times. When it comes to aircraft sales, Empire’s capabilities and experience extend to global markets. The role as an aircraft management company differentiates the approach from traditional brokers – the team knows which aircraft sell and how to maximise residual values. The ability to draw together all the strands of private aviation – sales, management, operations, and charter – enables the team to make private aviation a great experience for owners and charter guests. Empire Aviation’s Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) certification is central to aircraft management services and has been launched as a stand-alone offer for third party aircraft owners and operators through which the group takes responsibility for the quality management, auditing and records of each aircraft. CAMO is awarded by various aviation regulatory authorities (including San Marino, Cayman Islands, United Arab Emirates, Isle of Man and India) to aircraft management companies responsible for managing aircraft maintenance and keeping them airworthy. In 2016, Empire’s Indian Affiliated partners EAMSPL opened a dedicated CAMO and Compliance facility in India, which it operates from a sub-branch at the Aerocity in Delhi. The company also has a corporate office located in Bangalore.

Leading innovation

Empire Aviation is always looking to innovate and improve services and operations. Through the Covid-19 crisis, the team has been looking at potential opportunities such as expanding the markets in which it operates and enhancing product and service offerings. The group swiftly implemented various systems throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure a safe environment for all customers and employees. It also invested in new aviation management software covering flight operations and charter functions.

A new ‘Luxury Partner’ programme designed to combine the unique benefits of private jet travel with awardwinning luxury travel partners, was launched in response to the growing demand from affluent leisure travellers for highly personalised private travel services and associated luxury leisure experiences. The first Luxury Partners include companies focusing on the luxury resorts of the Indian Ocean and Thailand - favourites among private jet charter clients - Soneva, Lily Hotels’ Hideaway Beach Maldives, Private Plan, and Raffles Seychelles. From the outset, changing the regional market’s view of the business jet (from a luxury to a business tool) has been a core aim of Empire Aviation. A string of industry awards all suggests that the company is well on the way to achieving its objective.