Flexjet and Qatar Airways Launch Marketing Alliance

DALLAS, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- (www.flexjet.com) – Marking its second strategic marketing alliance with an international airline, Flexjet—a subsidiary of Bombardier—has signed an agreement with Qatar Airways to offer its fractional owners premium benefits when traveling through Qatar Airways' four North American gateways to and from the Middle East and beyond.

"With a growing focus on the international business market, we've seen an increase in demand for travel to the Middle East and the surrounding regions," said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet. "This alliance with Qatar Airways — an award-winning airline that shares Flexjet's passion for customer service — is an ideal way for us to provide a global aviation solution to our customers. It's a win-win."

"We are extremely pleased to be launching this new programme and are confident that it is an attractive product offering for individuals and large multi-national companies alike," said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways. "The new service is yet another enhanced product offering by Qatar's national carrier," he added.

As part of the marketing alliance, Flexjet fractional owners receive Gold member status in Qatar Airways' Privilege Club for a full year following the purchase of a single long-haul first - or business class ticket*. Membership perks include access to exclusive lounge facilities, priority check-in, and meet and greet services for guests arriving at or departing from Doha International Airport. Owners can also fly with Qatar Executive, the airline's private jet service featuring the youngest fleet of Bombardier aircraft in the Gulf.

In return, Qatar Airways' customers can obtain guaranteed access to more than 5,000 U.S. airports with as little as 24-hours' notice on high-performance Bombardier business jets, operated by U.S. air carrier Jet Solutions and supported by Flexjet's world-class customer service.

Flexjet established the first North American marketing alliance between a fractional jet ownership company and an international airline – Korean Air – in May 2010.

For more information, visit: www.flexjet.com, www.qatarairways.com or www.qatarexec.com.qa.

About Flexjet
Richardson, TX-based Flexjet — a division of Bombardier, the world's largest business aviation manufacturer — first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet now offers whole aircraft ownership and management, fractional jet ownership, jet cards and charter brokerage services. Flexjet's fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, and Flexjet is the first company to be honored with its 13th FAA Diamond Award for Excellence. Flexjet's fractional program fields an exclusive family of Bombardier business aircraft — the youngest in the fractional jet industry with an average age of approximately five years — including the Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 45 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 business jets. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com.

Flexjet has an approved fractional ownership program pursuant 14 C.F.R. Part 91, Subpart K, and manages flights for individual aircraft owners under Part 91 whole aircraft management program. All other flights (e.g. Flexjet 25 Jet Card program, charter brokerage services, etc.) are provided by certificated air carriers in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, as Flexjet is not an air carrier.

About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways operates one of the youngest fleet of aircraft in the skies today – 108 aircraft flying to 113 diverse business and leisure destinations from its Doha hub to cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. It has orders worth over US $50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s, A320 family of aircraft and Bombardier corporate jets. The rapid expansion of Qatar Airways prompted the State of Qatar to embark on one of its biggest projects – the construction of a brand new international airport in Doha, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2012. For more information on Qatar Airways, visit www.qatarairways.com

About Qatar Executive
Qatar Airways first announced at the Paris Air Show in 2009 the formation of a corporate jet subsidiary – Qatar Executive – as part of the airline's ongoing robust global growth strategy, and continued commitment to the Middle East and global business travel community. Headquartered at Doha International Airport, luxury jet services are available for charter to Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, Australia and the Middle East.

About Jet Solutions, LLC
Richardson-based Jet Solutions, established in 1995, is one of the largest FAR Part 135 air carriers, having operated more than 1,000,000 flight hours for customers throughout the world. Jet Solutions is the first air carrier in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundations Industry Audit Standard, and is the exclusive provider of the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program. www.jetsolutions.com.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

The Flexjet 25 Jet Card Program is operated under Part 135 by Jet Solutions, LLC, a U.S. air carrier. Flexjet acts as an agent for Jet Solutions, LLC, in connection with the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program. Flexjet acts as an agent for the customer with on-demand charter broker services when arranging transportation operated under Part 135 by U.S. air carriers.

Bombardier, Challenger, Challenger 300, Challenger 605, Flexjet, Flexjet 25, Learjet, Learjet 40, Learjet 45, Learjet 60, Learjet 70, Learjet 75 and XR are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.  

*Terms & Conditions apply

www.flexjet.com
www.jetsolutions.com
www.bombardier.com

SOURCE Flexjet