Nexus Flight Operations Services, the Arabian Gulf-based business aviation support group, is extending its operations into Europe. Here at the EBACE show the company announced its new Nexus Europe joint venture with French air transport logistics group Flytrans.
The new flight operations center is based close to Nice in the south of France and will provide the full array of Nexus services, including trip planning, flight dispatch, crew and aircraft scheduling, security, maintenance management and concierge arrangements. It will complement the existing Nexus operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, India and Rwanda.
Flytrans, which is part of the Balguerie Group, was formed in 1985 and so far its main air transport activities have focused on air freight management. Nexus is providing the specialist knowledge of business aviation requirements and will be recruiting and training staff for the new European division.
Nexus president and CEO Abdullah Al-Sayed told AIN that the new European operation follows the same strategic pattern as the group’s previous expansions in the Indian and African markets. Rather than partner with an existing business aviation player, with which there might well be competitive conflicts, Nexus has opted to join companies with strong local ties and provide the expertise itself.
Earlier this year, Nexus formed a partnership in India with Mumbai-based Sovika Airline Services, which has been involved in airline handling and airport support in the country for more than 20 years. In May 2011, it established an operation in Africa through an alliance with the Rwandan Development Board.
“Our vision is to work with the right strategic partners in each region of the world to continue the Nexus global expansion,” said Nexus chairman Mohammed Al-Zeer. “This vision is gradually but surely being realized thanks to the hard work of our Nexus core team and the trust of our customers and our global partners.”
Flytrans managing director Philippe Lamarca predicted that the new partnership will introduce “a new kind of aviation service into France and indeed wider Europe.”
