The Boeing Company on Wednesday announced the appointment of Kuljit Ghata-Aura as the new chairman of Boeing Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META), excluding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, effective September 30, Xinhua reports .
Ghata-Aura, which returns to the Middle East, Turkey and Africa region, will be based in Dubai. He will be responsible for leading all business-wide activities and developing and implementing strategies for the region, according to the announcement.
Ghata-Aura succeeds Bernie Dunn, who is leaving Boeing after more than nine years with the company in the region.
Boeing’s presence in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa dates back decades. Boeing has offices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, South Africa, Egypt, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company also has several industrial and academic partnerships in the region. Today, the region is one of the fastest growing commercial aircraft markets in the world, the company said.
Ghata-Aura joined Boeing in 2010 and has held several executive positions for the company in Europe, Russia, Israel, India and the META region.
Boeing in Africa
Boeing’s heritage in Africa dates back almost 75 years. Since the introduction of the jet aircraft, Boeing aircraft have formed the backbone of the continent’s commercial fleet. With more than 60 airline customers operating around 460 Boeing aircraft across Africa, Boeing accounts for nearly 70%
of the aircraft market currently in service across the continent.
The company’s legacy of military aircraft in Africa dates back to World War II, when heritage company Boeing Douglas Aircraft established a top-secret aircraft maintenance facility in Ethiopia, “Project 19,” to serve in command. air forces in North Africa. Currently, Boeing has offices in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Nairobi, Kenya, in addition to field service representatives with commercial customers across the continent.
Industrial partnerships
Boeing works with five suppliers across the African continent, with partnerships valued at around $ 30 million per year. In South Africa, Aerosud Aviation Pty. Ltd. supplies production parts to Boeing commercial aircraft programs. In 2011, Boeing announced a partnership with 43 Air School, Africa’s largest flight training organization, to deliver a pilot training program.
Boeing, South African Airways (SAA), the Sustainable Biomaterials Roundtable, Sunchem SA and SkyNRG have developed biofuel from a tobacco plant. In 2016, SAA and low-cost airline Mango celebrated the first passenger flights to Africa using sustainable biofuels.
In 2001, Boeing, Royal Air Maroc and Safran formed a joint venture, Morocco Aero Technical Interconnect Systems (MATIS) Aerospace, in Casablanca to manufacture wire harnesses and harnesses. In 2013, Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines signed an agreement to double the production of wire harnesses at the airline’s base in Addis Ababa.
Boeing’s global engagement
Since 2008, Boeing has partnered with more than 40 nonprofits to strengthen local communities. In Africa, Boeing has invested more than $ 8 million to support systemic improvements in education, economic empowerment and rural poverty reduction.
In 2017, Boeing launched the International Business Internship Program for students studying in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia to participate in a six-month internship in Seattle, Washington.
In July 2019, Boeing committed $ 100 million to meet the needs of families and communities of those affected by the tragic crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. These funds will support the education, hardship and living costs of affected families, community programs and development in these communities.
