Airbus targets Middle East for VIP jets

Airbus expects that the Middle East will require between five and 10 large corporate jets a year, cementing its place as the largest geographic market in the world for airliner based corporate jets.

The airframer says that there are currently around 200 aircraft operated by private VIP customers and government agencies in the Middle East, with new deliveries set to both add more capacity and also replace older aircraft. Currently, there are 80 Airbus corporate jets on order or in service in the region, and it says that it expects to account for half of the market going forward.