- The new 770 square metre facility marks the launch of the first PPP at Abu Dhabi Airports
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-02-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), the operator of Al Bateen Executive Airport, the dedicated business aviation airport in the Middle East, and gategroup of Switzerland, today officially opened the ‘Executive Gourmet’ catering facility at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi. The fully operational bespoke business aviation caterer will provide world class hospitality and catering services to meet the tailored requirements of elite passengers and private jets.
This announcement comes during an opening ceremony held at Al Bateen Executive Airport attended by Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan on behalf of Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan.
The new development arises from Al Bateen Executive Airport’s strategy to deliver the highest quality service for aircraft, operators, aircraft owners, and pilots. Executive Gourmet will provide its VIP catering concept from the 770 square metre facility at the executive airport. The on-site kitchen, which will be staffed around the clock with highly trained chefs, will produce gourmet meals from the highest quality ingredients.
Mohammed Al Bulooki, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, said:
“The new facility will enable Al Bateen Executive Airport to offer efficient and world class catering to its customers, another added benefit of using a dedicated business aviation airport. The development of such a facility is an excellent example of Abu Dhabi Airports Company’s focus on creating Public-Private partnerships to deliver new projects in its airports that will provide value and a luxurious experience to its expanding base of customers.”
Gategroup CEO Andrew Gibson said “Gategroup is very proud to be part of this joint venture. The opening of this new flight kitchen with its business model focused on upscale airline catering requirements marks Gategroup’s debut in the Middle East, and we are very proud that it should be at the region’s premier executive airport in Abu Dhabi”.
Since its inauguration as a dedicated business aviation airport in the end of 2008, Al Bateen Executive Airport has been witnessing strong growth in traffic movements. In 2012, the airport registered 2,200 private visiting aircraft movements, representing a 40% increase over the same period in 2011. Abu Dhabi Airports Company is committed to supporting this growth with state-of-the-art facilities, having invested US$50 million in turning the 50 year-old military airport into a luxury business aviation gateway with an impressive VVIP passenger terminal. Further plans are in place to develop new hangars, enhance aprons and utility-related infrastructure and continue with runway improvements in the coming years.
The official opening of the Gourmet Executive catering facility comes at a crucial time – right before the second annual Abu Dhabi Air Expo, to be held at Al Bateen Airport from 5th March until 7th March.
For more information about the event, please visit www.adairexpo.com or www.albateenairport.ae.