Leading aircraft charter specialist Air Charter Service has opened its first office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the capital city of Riyadh.

At the official launch, earlier this week, Justin Bowman, Air Charter Service’s Chief Executive, said of the new operation: “We have been targeting the expansion of our Middle Eastern operations for some time now, and Riyadh was the natural choice for this move. Following the country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)’s recent decision to open the Kingdom’s private aviation sector to global charter companies, now is the perfect time.

“Riyadh is the political, financial, and commercial centre of Saudi Arabia and, outside of the UAE, we have more customers in Riyadh than anywhere else in the Middle East. Our clients value face-to-face contact, and our team in Saudi Arabia will be looking to grow our already significant business even further. And, over the next few years, we will be proudly supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s economic diversification goals by investing in local talent to grow the team.” 

Elie Hanna, CEO of ACS Middle East, commented: “The Kingdom offers such an opportunity, with the rapidly growing film, entertainment and sports markets further enriching the longer-standing industries in the country. We possess a wealth of relevant experience in these sectors and arrange hundreds of charters for VIPs and governments around the world. Along with supporting these sectors, our cargo teams are well-versed in assisting with the logistical challenges of construction projects, as well as other complex freight operations. And our specialist aviation teams are able to assist airlines in the Kingdom with logistical support and airline leasing.

“Our presence here will bring our unmatched global expertise directly to clients in Saudi Arabia, delivering premium charter solutions that support the growth of the private aviation sector. Not only this but through our global network, we will be able to better serve clients from around the world who are looking to visit the Kingdom.”

Air Charter Service’s physical entry into Saudi Arabia comes at the perfect time with demand for private aviation services increasing. Private jet flights alone increased by 24% in the Kingdom in 2024, with the industry forecast to reach US$ 2 billion by 2030, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation.