DUBAI, 21 November 2005 — A Saudi private airline specializing in executive transport said it has ordered 10 Airbus A318 Elite business jets, on the sidelines of the Dubai Air Show which opened yesterday. Jeddah-based National Air Services (NAS) said in a statement it has made a firm commitment to purchase five A318 Elites and has taken an option for five additional aircraft. NAS plans to use the aircraft, which can seat between 14 and 18 people, for VIP customers throughout the Middle East, including routes from Saudi Arabia to Europe, it said. NAS is the largest private operator of business jets in the Middle East with 28 aircraft in its fleet today. Airbus introduced the A318 Elite, which has a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles, earlier this month.
