Qatar Airways has announced its corporate jet division, Qatar Executive, will add three new Bombardier aircraft to its fleet starting from later this month.

Forging ahead to meet the growing demand for business jet services from the Middle East and globally, the carrier has swiftly taken measures to increase its fleet capacity to cater to the surge in private travel in the region and worldwide.

In the two years since Qatar Executive launched, it will double its all-Bombardier fleet to six aircraft by the end of August.

The incoming deliveries will include a Bombardier XRS in May, followed by a Challenger 605 in July, and a Global 5000 in August, the latter of which is the second delivery from an order for two Global 5000s announced at the Farnborough Air Show last July.

The Doha-based corporate jet operation began in 2009 with two Bombardier Challenger 605s. Last October a Global 5000 joined the fleet, which took the total fleet up to three aircraft.

Another significant boost to Qatar Executive’s operations is a dedicated 6,300 square metre hangar facility at Doha International Airport for maintenance operations. The facility is now open, and will serve other business aircraft operators as well.

The hangar features aircraft handling and dispatch services, aircraft cleaning, as well as passenger lounge facilities for visiting aircraft.

Qatar Executive was selected by Bombardier to become its second Approved Service Facility in the Middle East for the Challenger and Global aircraft.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker hailed the rapid growth of Qatar Executive as testament to the region’s burgeoning demand for corporate jet travel.

“When Qatar Executive first began, it was a successful operation right from the start. The travel patterns we witnessed from the onset were indicative of the pent-up demand for tailor-made and completely customised travel. It immediately became obvious that we were filling a gap in a market which has grown rapidly, particularly in the Middle East region