Into Africa: The Nexus big thing for Bahrain-based flight services business

Earlier this year the company - part of the Saudi Arabian MAZ group - said it planned to establish a new flight operations centre (FOC) in Kigali, Rwanda - a first for Nexus in Africa, as well as the first of its kind on the continent.

The company said at the show that these plans are on track and the launch date will be confirmed soon

The new centre is to be the largest of its kind in Africa and will adhere only to the highest industry standards and strictest international regulations, Nexus said at the show.

The centre itself will be extremely advanced, boasting state-of-the-art technology in flight operations services to cater to local and international customers alike.

Local staff will undergo 180 hours of rigorous training at  Nexus h eadquarters in preparation for the opening, in order to have the capacity of delivering a wide range of services,Nexus aims to offer complete 24 x 7 support and back-up facilities for Nexus Africa through its well established FOC’s in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Manama, Bahrain.

The expansion has been made in partnership with Crystal Venture Limited.  The Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority plan to make the country a regional hub for air transport operation. They aim to do this by ensuring aviation safety and security and providing a conducive airport environment with the ultimate goal of promoting tourism and trade.  This comes as part of their bigger vision to improve the private sector and infrastructural development within the country.

Despite having a tumultuous history, Rwanda has since strengthened politically and economically, and welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists and witnesses exponential growth annually. With this strategically placed, fully equipped FOC, lying at the heart of Africa, Nexus believes is well positioned to meet the needs of its clients – VIP fleet operators, private aircraft owners, and low cost airlines - throughout the entire continent and beyond.

MAZ group chairman, Mohammed Al-Zeer, (pictured above) said of the investment: “We have been waiting for the perfect time to announce our opening and we know that this is now coming. This move will solidly position us at the centre of the aviation market in the Middle East and Africa. Our ultimate aim is to be globally recognised as the leading African provider of flight operations services, employing the best, serving the elite and being respected by industry leaders. This is only our first step.”

Abdullah Al-Sayed, president and chief executive officer of Nexus said: “I have been thoroughly impressed with the extent of Rwanda’s purity, lack of corruption and their organisation skills. We at Nexus feel very proud to be able to tap into such a determined country’s great potential and share this hidden gem with people from all over the world. However, while Nexus will be implementing the highest of international standards at the FOC, just as we do with our other bases; we will still retain a local flavour.”

Chairman of Crystal Ventures Manasseh Nshuti commented: “CVL is wholly owned by Rwandan business people who pooled resources together to meet challenges of economic recovery and take advantage of growth opportunities in a virgin environment. We thrive on innovation, application of appropriate technologies and attracting the best management talent to stay ahead of competitors in all our businesses. This joint venture with Nexus more than meets our intentions and values and we are happy to say that the Rwandan business playing field is becoming more developed and competitive every day.”