UAE: Emirates Flight Catering Builds Facility Offering Inflight Catering Services For Private Aviation

Dubai South, previously known as Dubai World Central, has announced the signing of an agreement with Emirates Flight Catering to build a facility offering inflight catering services for private aviation.

Under the agreement, EKFC will build the facility with exclusivity in providing inflight catering and support services to private and business flights operating at Dubai South, a statement said.

The alliance comes in context of several aviation-related facilities that are being developed at Dubai South, including the VIP Terminal, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) hangars, aircraft fit-out and painting facilities, and the establishment of fixed-base operators, it added.

Khalifa AlZaffin, executive chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, the parent organisation of Dubai South, said: "Traditionally, the demands of business aviation passengers for food are highly bespoke and catering companies are unable to meet these very specific requirements.

"Given the expected business aviation traffic and our vision of creating a world class aviation hub at Dubai South, we have awarded the contract to Emirates Flight Catering Company to provide dedicated executive in-flight catering services for General Aviation within the Aviation District to meet current and potential future catering demand of all FBOs."

It is expected that the majority of the business jet operations will relocate to Al Maktoum International Airport which is forecasted to see double digit growth over the coming years, leading to almost 18,000 annual movements by 2018.

Saeed Mohammed, CEO, Emirates Flight Catering, added: "We are very proud to collaborate with Dubai South and to create a new, exclusive facility which will contribute to the expansion and success of Dubai South.

"With three decades of experience in servicing private VIP flights, Emirates Flight Catering's contribution will put Dubai on the map as a private aviation hub - one which other hubs, such as Cannes, London and Geneva, will undoubtedly look to for inspiration."

Dubai South - the rebranded Dubai World Central - is an emerging 145 square km city situated within Dubai that will ultimately sustain a population of one million.