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Vista Global to acquire JetSmarter

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Vista Global, a world leader in business flight solutions, announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire JetSmarter, creating the global On Demand digital marketplace.


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JetSmarter’s innovative marketplace technology will fulfil Vista Global’s digitization strategy, providing all customers with an unmatched end-to-end service and seamless booking experience. The acquisition will enhance Vista Global’s formidable position offering the largest suite of services and advanced technologies to every private aviation customer.

Following JetSmarter’s successful digital partnership with XOJET, it will now bring its digital capabilities to the entire Vista Global group. JetSmarter’s industry-disrupting platform will therefore be integrated into the back-end technology of Vista Global’s brands VistaJet, Vista Lease and XOJET. The integration will significantly improve the ease and speed of the booking process for the 150,000 passengers traveling with any of the Vista Global companies each year, building upon its impressive track record of offering customers the most technologically advanced solutions in the private aviation industry.

Vista Global’s Founder and Chairman Thomas Flohr said: “Today’s acquisition is an important milestone for Vista Global – accelerating and executing our vision of digitizing the entire private aviation offering. Customers today want speed, reliability and value, which in today’s world is only possible with technology. Vista Global’s reach and infrastructure will take JetSmarter to the global stage to fully realize its potential. JetSmarter’s technology will digitalize Vista Global’s market-leading customer offering to Program Members and On Demand customers.”

Since its founding in 2012, JetSmarter has become the preeminent provider of technology-enabled service to the business aviation market with two million downloads to date. Today, JetSmarter’s digital platform allows both Members and On Demand customers to book private or shared trips instantly.

Following the acquisition, JetSmarter’s customers will benefit from the reach, resources and operational expertise of Vista Global group. Its growing customer base will have access to a wider fleet, wherever they are in the world, and enjoy the highest standards in private aviation as they join the Vista Global family. They will significantly benefit from the group’s unparalleled customer service and an unmatched in-flight experience.

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Steven Langman, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Rhône Capital added: “Vista Global is marking a new major milestone in its development. The acquisition of JetSmarter is fully in-line with the company’s mission: to transform the nature of the business aviation sector and offer its growing customer base a fast and seamless access to its services through digital innovation.”

Behdad Eghbali, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Clearlake Capital Group stated: “Vista Global is the undisputed market leader with unmatched vision to consolidate and digitally transform this fragmented industry. Vista Global’s worldwide fleet access, unmatched end-to-end service experience, and world-class management team will combine with JetSmarter’s digital technology leadership including digital bookings and On Demand crowdsourcing to further expand Vista Global’s leadership. We are thrilled to partner with Thomas Flohr and the talented management team at Vista Global and believe that, combined with Vista Global, JetSmarter will flourish and revolutionize the industry’s digital transformation.”

The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. As part of the transaction, all JetSmarter investors, inclusive of Clearlake Capital and Jefferies Financial Group, will become investors in Vista Global, supporting its future growth. Jefferies LLC acted as financial advisor to JetSmarter.

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Jet Airways leader gives in to pressure to quit

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In a major, although not unexpected development, Jet Airways founder and chairman, Naresh Goyal, and his wife, Anita, have resigned from the board.

The pioneer aviation leader, who founded the full-service airline 25 years ago, has been under pressure to quit. Etihad has a 24 percent stake in the airline, and its one director is also quitting, this writer learned.

The airline has to ground scores of its planes for non-payment of lease money. Goyal has written a letter to 22,000 Jet staff members saying that this is a new chapter, and not the end of the road.

The future course of Jet Airways will be decided by the lenders, led by State Bank of India, and an amount of Rs 1500 crores may be invested now to solve issues for the moment. The government is also expected to play an important role, as it is keen to see that the line is revived and not grounded at a time when aviation in India is growing.

Ajay Singh, SpiceJet chief, has called for policy changes to see that the aviation sector in the country grows.

It is important to keep the large network of routes of Jet Airways in order, so that in the future, the flight routes can be served again.

The next few weeks and months will be watched with keen interest in India and abroad, as things shape up, depending on several factors.

The country is also going to soon hold elections, and the outcome may also have an impact on the aviation scene.

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What Abu Dhabi Airports will show at Saudi International Airshow

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Abu Dhabi Airports is participating in the inaugural edition of the Saudi International Air Show, held between March 12 – 14 at Thumamah Airport, Riyadh, showcasing its role within the regional aviation sector. Abu Dhabi Airports’ participation in the airshow, as part of the UAE pavilion, is the result of the close ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, particularly within the fields of air transport and tourism.

The airshow falls ahead of the opening of the new Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), which aims to deliver a seamless passenger experience through the incorporation of cutting-edge technology, world-class leisure facilities and enhanced capacity and connectivity.

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Bryan Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Our attendance comes as part of our commitment to maintaining the UAE’s aviation ties with its key regional partners. Through participating at this event, we look to celebrate the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, particularly in the aviation sector, where trade and tourism between the two nations continues to play a key role in each of their national economies.”

“We are looking forward to exhibiting a model of the new Midfield Terminal Building, which will accommodate an additional 45 million passengers annually, at the Saudi International Airshow. The new facility will exhibit the latest technological developments for passengers arriving to, departing from and transiting through Abu Dhabi. The building will enhance Abu Dhabi Airports’ network, allowing regional passengers to experience our unique brand of Arabian hospitality on their way to a wide range of global destinations,” added Mr. Thompson.

“Our participation in leading aviation events such as the Saudi International Airshow is in line with our vision to become the world’s leading airports group, as we build greater strategic partnerships with key stakeholders from across the region and around the world,” concluded Mr. Thompson.

US Customs and Border Protection Pre-Clearance Facility

Of particular interest to regional travelers is the United States Customs and Border Protection Pre-Clearance Facility located at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Passengers travelling to the US through AUH continue to enjoy the award-winning facility. The service is the only one of its kind in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, allowing passengers connecting through Abu Dhabi to avoid lengthy queues upon arrival in the US and have their baggage checked through to their final destination.

Passengers traveling to New York, Washington, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles on flights operated by the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Airways, can take advantage of this unique service. Last year, over 500,000 passengers passed through the facility, demonstrating its continued appeal to regional and international travelers.

Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone

During the airshow, Abu Dhabi Airports will also be highlighting the recent reductions in business setup costs at the Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ). Having reduced costs by more than 66%, ADAFZ enables new businesses to easily enter and establish themselves within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

In addition to the business setup cost reductions, ADAFZ has received a Tawtheeq registration exemption for itself and its customers from the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities (DPM) in Abu Dhabi.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Airports, ADAFZ operates free zones at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain International Airport and Al Bateen Executive Airport. These zones provide 100% ownership, a tax-free environment, and other benefits including 0% import or re-export duties, no restrictions on capital repatriation, no currency restrictions and a full range of services including company registration, licensing, leasing and rapid visa processing for employees.

The Gulf Center for Aviation Studies (GCAS)

GCAS will also be present at Saudi Airshow promoting its aviation and airport training expertise and programs to the regional aviation community. GCAS is one of the few training centers within the region that offer internationally accredited aviation courses from entities such as IATA, ACI, and ICAO. Its location within an active Al Bateen Executive Airport provides delegates with hands-on experience of the airport environment and its requirements and challenges. With the anticipation of the continuous growth of the aviation industry, human capital development is key to sustaining this growth, and that is where GCAS plays a vital role in the region.

Visit Nepal 2020 Launch to Honor the Life of a Tourism Hero

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Nepal is known as a country of beauty and resilience when it comes to the travel and tourism industry. Nepal is also known to have some of the most dedicated people running their nation’s tourism industry. Many of them will be attending the ITB travel trade show in Berlin from March 6-10 to celebrate one of their own tourism heros, the late Nepal Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari.

The Nepal Tourism Board in cooperation with the Nepal Embassy in Berlin, has planned a launch event of “Visit Nepal 2020” at a VIP dinner on March 7 on the sidelines of ITB and organized by the eTN Corporation.

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There will be 252 VIPs in attendance, including several ministers of tourism including Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who is the person behind the global tourism resilience initiative. There will be ambassadors, the former UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai, top Nepal travel suppliers (buyers and sellers), and media from around the world who have registered to attend.

The ITB launch for “Visit Nepal 2020” will be dedicated to the late Nepal Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari.

He was instrumental in the finalization of “Visit Nepal 2020” and had been working endlessly until last week to make this important milestone a success.

The late Nepal Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari, was to attend the dinner in Berlin, but less than a week before the launch, he passed away in a tragic helicopter accident after visiting a new airport project and a temple in Southern Nepal.

Nepal Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari.

Nepal Tourism officials put great thought into whether or not they should move forward with the event at ITB or if it would be appropriate to delay due to the Minister’s death. After careful consideration, it was decided that the hard work of their late minister would be his best legacy, and they came to the consensus to go forward with the “Visit Nepal 2020” event on Thursday.

In honor of Minister Adhikari’s vision, this planned evening of culture and Nepalese cuisine will now also be an evening to gather and remember the late Minister Rabindra Adhikari with respect for his tireless efforts and gratitude for his foresight for the future of Nepal’s tourism industry.

After taking the helm at the Ministry in February of last year, Adhikari, 49, had undertaken a series of policies to reform Nepal’s civil aviation sector. He took prompt steps to improve conditions at Nepal’s only international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport, and pursued the reactivation of several domestic airports. Adhikari also held several rounds of talks with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which recognized some of the steps he had taken on the safety of Nepal travel.

The year 2020 was chosen as the national tourism year of Nepal after the year 2011 which was the primary authority tourism year of the new Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The government and tourism department of Nepal authoritatively reported that Nepal will take the year 2020 as “Visit Nepal 2020,” a year committed to the tourism industry of Nepal with the vision of making a reasonable brand picture of Nepal as a travel and vacation destination. This vision supports the tourism foundation of Nepal, enhances the growth of the nation’s tourism industry, and enriches local tourism as a supportable industry.

Beginning in 2016 and 2017, the government began making arrangements and laying a foundation to formally initiate the open connection program for “Visit Nepal 2020.”

The legislature aims to accommodate more than two million visitors amid the year of this important Tourism program.

For more information on the launch event, go to buzz.travel/nepal.

Global Investment in Aviation Summit to reshape aviation investment landscape

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The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is holding the Global Investment in Aviation Summit on 28-29 January 2019 at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City. GCAA will host more than 600 investors, speakers, and delegates along with a number of high-level officials and aviation professionals from more than 50 countries during the two-day global event.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General, GCAA, said, “The broad international participation in this Summit reflects the importance of the aviation industry, which has become one of the most attractive sectors for investors seeking safe haven for their investment. The current stability of the aviation sector is attributed to the openness of different markets and the increasing demand for air services such as travel, air cargo, aircraft maintenance, information technology in air traffic, aircraft supply, aircraft engineering, manufacturing, and supply.”

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Al Suwaidi added, “Dubai has strengthened its position in various economic sectors. It has become an ideal destination for multinational companies, businessmen and investors, because of the diverse investment opportunities within a leading business environment. The emirate offers this to meet the needs of and to support various economic sectors.”

The launch of GIAS comes at a time when the volume of investment to modernize global aviation is projected to reach $1.8tn by 2030. Growing investments in different continents and regions are strong indicators that the investment trend is leaning toward more promising and bigger opportunities especially in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Among the major cities investing for their aviation modernization and development are Jeddah ($7.2bn), Kuwait ($4.3bn), Argentina ($803m), South Africa ($632m), Egypt ($436m), Kenya ($306m), Nigeria ($300m), Uganda ($200m), and Seychelles ($150m).

The Summit aims to reshape the investment landscape of the aviation sector towards a qualitative and distinct level as would be witnessed by the large participation of aviation ministers, heads of aviation authorities, and major aviation companies. Participants will also witness the launch of the largest business incubator in the aviation industry to review during the Summit completed projects and those which are under development.

The summit also includes a preliminary program that is held on the day prior to the summit that includes masterclasses as well as workshops in aircraft and airport project financing.

Global Investment in Aviation Summit will witness the largest attendance and participation of the heads of aviation companies, decision-makers, economic experts, and government officials to review investment prospects in the UAE aviation sector, the whole of the Middle East and across the world.