Mideast Aviation Won't Be Hampered By Soaring Oil

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- The Middle East civilian aerospace industry was not
expected to be dampened by record fuel prices.
A leading industry official said the Gulf and other regions in the
Middle East would accelerate procurement of executive jets. The
officials said the market was growing by 18 percent a year.
"The Middle East business aviation market is expected to reach $800
million by 2012," Dubai Civilian Aviation Authority president Ahmed Bin
Saeed Al Maktoum said.
Ahmed, also chief executive officer of the Emirates Group, said
soaring fuel prices have not restricted the growth of the aerospace
industry. He said he would brief Western executives on opportunities in the
Gulf during the Farnborough International Airshow outside London on July
14-20.