Big Mid-east sales for Dassault

Cash rich: Dassault Falcon expects to have doubled its Middle East sales by year end.

Aerospace company Dassault Falcon is set to double its Middle East sales this year, according to a senior company director.

John Rosanvallon, president and CEO of the business jets seller, believes rising oil prices will help contribute to Dassault's profit growth in this region.

"The Middle East market has been growing faster than other regions of the world and after a great 2006 we expect to double our sales here this year," Rosanvallon said.

"Increased income from higher oil prices is certainly a factor but we see countless examples of companies here broadening their interests to other areas of commerce and trade throughout the world."

Dassault wouldn't elaborate on the profit forecast, but it's thought the company's agreement with National Air Services will contribute. During the Paris Air Show in June, Dassault announced a deal to supply up to 20 aircraft to Saudi Arabia's National Air Services.

The deal involves Falcon 2000LXs, with four firm orders and options agreed on a further 16.

"The order will make a significant contribution to the growth of the NAS fleet in the region which currently stands at 47 aircraft," Rosanvallon said. Operators based in the Middle East have also added Falcon 7Xs to their respective fleets, according to Dassault's management team.

Dassault's success in the Middle East encouraged management to open a full-time sales office in Dubai. The company has also set up the Falcon Spares Distribution Center, which provides spare parts for business jets. The facility is worth some US$1.5 million.

"This is another step in our strategy to improve parts availability where the Falcon fleet has been growing," said Frank Youngkin, vice president of worldwide spares for Dassault Falcon. Dubai is unique because of the expanding Falcon fleet based there, but it's also a popular stopover point for transient aircraft flying from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe. This expansion expedites and simplifies the delivery process for all aircraft in the region."

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