Dubai-based aviation services provider, Air Charter International, has appointed heavy lift charter expert Paul Bingley to help refocus its air charter product.
Bingley has worked in the air cargo industry for more than 30 years. Air Charter International, meanwhile, was established back in 1994 to provide bespoke air charter services. In recent years, its core business has been aircraft leasing.
“Our aim is to refocus on what made Air Charter International’s name in the first place,” explained Bingley. “While we continue to demonstrate outstanding capability in aircraft leasing, it is through air charters that we’re widely acknowledged. We’re now looking to strengthen this division by enhancing our cargo product, particularly with a view to supporting those in the project forwarding sector, who may be seeking quicker access to more difficult-to-reach regions.”
Recent disasters in North Africa have highlighted that demand. The sudden rush for urgent shipments of relief supplies, personnel and equipment to war-stricken countries like Libya saw regulatory restrictions prevent many carriers from operating to the country. “That’s where organisations like Air Charter International really come into their own,” Bingley explained. “Finding the means to make an air charter happen, even to some of the world’s most troubled hotspots, is something the company has been successfully doing for almost 30 years. This experience, plus a vast network of suppliers and partnerships, have played a huge part in that.”
Air Charter International’s footprint spans the Middle East, South Asia, Asia-Pacific and Europe, while the company also has an eye on Africa as an emerging market.
Bingley said: “We recognise there are some countries crying out for cargo capacity, especially those considered ‘offline’ or too precarious by the major carriers. We believe our capabilities as a well-established air charter broker, combined with the partnership of project forwarders, large and small, can help bridge the gap. That’s our aim for now.”
