As former stablemates being run by the same entity, Alpha Star Aviation Services and Sky Prime Aviation Services (Chalet A12) have enjoyed a prominent role in Saudi Arabia’s private aviation space, but this relationship is understood to have recently come to an end, with the sale of Sky Prime, which is now believed to be operating as a separate entity. After a tenure as CEO, apparently of both companies, of around four years, Salem Al Muzaini left the company some time ago.
New Alpha Star CEO, Abdulnasser M. Al Kheraif, told AIN at the MEBAA Symposium in Jeddah September 4 that the company’s mission was entirely devoted to “government contracts,” and that he was unable to reveal any details about its work. He added that a number of aircraft of former affiliate Sky Prime had been sold to the government, and that company was now dealing with private charter flights in the kingdom. However, most of these missions are understood to involve people close to the government.
Without specifying total number of fleet units, Alpha Star’s recently updated website said its aircraft included the Airbus A320, the Hawker 900XP, and the ATR-500. It said its lines of business included aircraft management, air ambulance, and airport management.
“Alpha Star was formed in 2010 in Riyadh and has obtained GACA Part 125, Part 135 and Part 145, licenses, as well as ISO certificates such as ISO9001: 2008 & AS 9110B. Our team consists of dedicated and experienced private aviation professionals. Every aircraft in our fleet has been selected to suit a variety of needs..[whether] you are chartering one of our comfortable luxury aircraft or we are managing your aircraft,” it said.
Also based in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Sky Prime offers a number of services, including an “Owner Advantage Program,” charter, MRO and technical support, ground handling, medevac, aviation project management and consultancy, and executive services. According to its website, its fleet includes 13 aircraft, four Airbus, including an A340-200 and an A330, seven Gulfstreams, including four G450s, a Legacy 550 and a Phenom 300.
A 2017 press release issued by Sky Prime claimed it had a 70 percent share of the Saudi private-aviation market, and that it was the largest bizjet operator in the Middle East, since its inception in 2016. “Now stepping strongly into its second year of operation despite global economic challenges, Sky Prime Private Aviation reports a 40 percent growth in charter flights size compared to 2016, as well as 25 percent growth in flying hours and 20 percent growth in Sky Prime elite clientele,” it said.
