James Farley on how Victor is revolutionising business aviation

Q. Victor recently moved its HQ to Abu Dhabi. Tell us more about your expansion into the Middle East and the opportunities and challenges you anticipate in the market.

We are excited to establish our headquarters in Abu Dhabi and begin this new chapter in Victor’s journey. Following our recent acquisition by an investment group in Abu Dhabi, this move represents a significant milestone for business aviation, not only in the emirate but across the UAE and the wider MENA region.

The business aviation market is experiencing rapid growth in this region, surpassing other parts of the world. Abu Dhabi’s strategic location, combined with its top-tier aviation infrastructure and robust regulatory framework, offers us unparalleled opportunities to expand our reach across MENA and serve our growing customer base.

By leveraging Abu Dhabi’s unique geographical advantages, we gain access to key markets such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt, allowing us to offer more choice, transparency, and best-in-class customer service. We anticipate challenges in navigating the diverse regulatory environments and competitive landscape, but our sophisticated service and commitment to climate action position us well to overcome these obstacles.

Q. How do you plan to keep raising the company’s profile in a competitive region such as the Middle East? Are there any projects that you are working on?

Raising and maintaining a strong profile in the Middle East involves leveraging our reputation for customer excellence, transparency and climate action. Victor’s presence will inherently create value for the regional ecosystem, and we are committed to continuously innovating and improving our offerings.

We will expand our Alto frequent-flyer program by forming new partnerships in the region and providing exclusive benefits to travellers, thus creating value for both customers and partners. Additionally, we will continue investing in new products and technologies to ensure we deliver efficient, high-quality service.

Our partnerships with key organisations in the region, such as the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), will expand our network and strengthen our standing. We are also focused on localising talent and are committed to sponsoring student internships and creating jobs for Emiratis, thereby supporting the growth of the local economy.

Our climate action initiatives, such as our partnership with Neste, demonstrate our dedication to environmental responsibility, allowing us to attract like-minded customers.

Q. How many airport operations and customer services (AOCs) do you have currently and how many more are in the pipeline?

Over the past five years, Victor customers have flown with 911 different operators worldwide, landing at 1,391 unique airports. Victor features more than 250 published operators on our website and almost 2,000 operators in total within our systems.

We share anonymised client data at the point of quotation, allowing flyers to make more informed decisions about which operator to choose. Our innovative and industry-first Client Preferred Operators system, which compiles thousands of Victor customer feedback reports, guides clients to our highest-performing operators.

This ensures that new members in the region are immediately empowered with a greater quality of choice and control upon registering with us.

We operate on an on-demand basis rather than using a fixed pipeline, so Victor has access to every operator and airport.

When a client requests a flight, we search for the best options in the region. If Victor has not previously used an operator, fixed-base operator (FBO), or other supporting service, we vet them for the client and include them in the quotation options. We are open to working with any and all providers to deliver the best service possible.

How did the company perform last year, and what are the company’s growth priorities? 

Our growth priorities are centred on cementing Victor’s leadership in the region’s private aviation sector and expanding our market share while aligning with Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision to enhance its aviation and hospitality sectors.

The demand for private jet charters in the region has seen substantial growth, with departures from the GCC region up by 76.6 per cent compared to 2019 and the UAE specifically experiencing an 89.5 per cent increase. This surge is driven by the region’s business-friendly environment, a growing number of high-net-worth individuals, and a robust calendar of world-class events attracting global visitors.

We are poised to capitalise on this growth, focusing on expanding our footprint in key markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar while also contributing to job creation, supporting local economic development, and demonstrating our commitment to climate action.

We believe our move to Abu Dhabi will provide the region with a greater selection of chartering options, ensuring our existing and new clients receive a seamless, transparent, and elevated travel experience. With sovereign financial backing, we are perfectly positioned to achieve our ambition of making Victor the number one choice for private jet flyers, not only in the MENA region but worldwide.

 Read: UAE dominates corporate aviation in MENA, says aviation body