Luxury Aviation

Privately owned and chartered aircraft arrive to Davos symbolizing a thriving sector

Richard Gaona, Executive Chairman & CEO, Comlux

With Richard Gaona at the helm, Comlux has transformed as a Swiss-based service provider in the fields of business aviation, transaction and completion services, into a diversified global operation continuing to rapidly expand. Gaona is committed to continuously setting new standards in the field and believes, “Nothing is impossible with time and adequate resources.” 

Comlux’s strong ties with the USA, and having Indianapolis as their base for their purpose-built facility handling all completion services and cabin interiors, is one of the chief ingredients to the company’s success. Gaona unquestionably states, “The quality and innovative engineering in the USA brings a completely new dimension to the aircraft we work on for our VIP clients. They are engineering luxury and innovation that you don’t find elsewhere. Our engineers in the USA come from top-notch universities. It is an area with a tank of potential, young people who are an asset to us and make for an excellent team. North America is the land of business aviation expertise.” 

Comlux’s clients seeking private aviation needs, both for personal and professional management, trust the company to assist in the entire process from aircraft sales and acquisitions to operations, charter management, cabin interiors, and overall maintenance through the years. Their aircraft fleet utilizes cutting-edge technology and seamlessly incorporates luxury at every corner. Comlux Creatives integrate stunning interiors and cabin design, while Comlux Completion creates customized solutions for the ultimate comfort and luxury. It is one of the only completion centers in the world that can integrate all interiors in-house. Ensuring comfort for the duration of the flight, Comlux has been adding humidity services to all long-haul flights for over ten years. Furthermore, Comlux has innovative intellectual property regarding noise level reduction. They reduce the noise without substantially increasing the weight of each aircraft, which in turn allows for a greater flying range. Their communication technology is also far above the rest, with their USA based engineers continuing to work on the capacity of high-speed internet services on long-haul flights, already reaching over 40 individuals using high-speed streaming services at once, such as video streaming and live video conferencing in-flight.

Always bearing in mind space and comfort, Comlux is the largest Airbus VIP operator worldwide.  The company also has a large presence in the market working on Airbus Corporate Jets, Boeing Business Jets and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Bombardier Global and Gulfstream aircraft, in particular, allow their clients to reach their destinations at record speed. 

Part of the company’s charm is the team’s commitment to deliver the best customer service imaginable. Gaona was eager to highlight, “Our teams are available 24/7 to make any and all necessary arrangements to make our clients fly in supreme comfort.” This elite customer service also takes place on their transactional side, as Comlux Transactions helps clients acquire new aircraft or sell existing ones. Gaona mentioned, “Our team helps our clients evaluate potential costs around the maintenance of aircraft and costs associated with cabin upgrades prior to having them invest in the aircraft. Comlux has one flat management fee, with total transparency for any potential added costs, which sets us apart as well.”

Gaona personally has already had a tremendously successful career, including being responsible for the sale of the first A380 VIP “Flying Palace” for the Prince of Saudi Arabia, launching the successful Airbus A318 Elite program, and now making Comlux evolve into a world leader. His passion has no bounds and his ambition has set a professional benchmark for Comlux to achieve robust growth, and be the number one provider in the USA in their field within the next five years. Gaona proudly stated, “We will continue to deliver world-class Swiss-made business aviation services at the highest standards of safety and quality in the industry. Some of our clients surely will be arriving to the World Economic Forum on aircraft we manage for them.” Comlux’s combination of Swiss business savvy with American engineering ingenuity has proved to be a winning combination. As Gaona believes, the sky’s the limit. 


More Articles

  • Interview: Ayman Ismail, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Dar Al Mimar Group (DMG)

    Interview: Ayman Ismail, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Dar Al Mimar Group (DMG)

    Dar Al Mimar Group (DMG) is the largest vertically integrated holding covering real estate development in Egypt. The group focuses on world-class standards and operates in three sectors: engineering, real estate, and hospitality through its subsidiaries. Since 2005 Mountain View is among Egypt’s leading private property development companies. DMG has developed and now manages over…

  • Interview: Mohammed Saad Eldin, Chairman, Saad Eldin Group

    Interview: Mohammed Saad Eldin, Chairman, Saad Eldin Group

    Saad Eldin Group. The highly diversified vertically integrated Oil & Gas holding was founded in 1985 and is focused on servicing LPG, LNG, CNG and other industrial gases. Saad Eldin Group subsidiaries and factories are dedicated to manufacturing, filling and delivering of gas cylinders throughout Egypt. Its facilities include gas processing plants, LPG container manufacturing…

  • Interview: Albert Gress, Country Manager Egypt, SDX Energy

    Interview: Albert Gress, Country Manager Egypt, SDX Energy

    SDX Energy is a North Africa focused international E&P business with high margin producing assets and a transformational exploration upside. It engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas primarily in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Morocco. Net production: 3,237 boe/d, 2P reserves: 13.5 mmboe. The company is cash flow…

  • Interview: David Chi, Vice President and General Manager, Apache Egypt

    Interview: David Chi, Vice President and General Manager, Apache Egypt

    Apache has 22 years of exploration, development and operations experience in Egypt and is one of the largest acreage holders in Egypt’s Western Desert. Apache has invested more than $1 billion in the Egyptian oil and gas sector during 2018. It remains the largest oil producer in Egypt, one of the largest foreign investors in the country, and in particular the largest American investor in Egypt. Are you optimistic about…

  • Interview: Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum of Egypt

    Interview: Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum of Egypt

    How will natural gas exports contribute to Egypt’s economic acceleration? The current strategy of the Ministry aims at fulfilling the requirements of the local market and completion of the gas development projects. However, to achieve such a vital goal we worked towards increasing production by speeding up the development of the Mediterranean discoveries. Thus, due…

  • Interview: Maged Ezz Eldeen, Country Senior Partner, PwC Egypt

    Interview: Maged Ezz Eldeen, Country Senior Partner, PwC Egypt

    How have Egypt’s economic reforms affected the competitiveness of the economy? Egypt’s unprecedented macroeconomic and business legislation reform measures are bearing positively on the country’s competitive standing. For the first time in eight years, Egypt’s ranking on the global competitiveness report witnessed a significant jump of 15 places in 2017. Underpinning this was a remarkable…

  • Interview: Mr. Mohamed Hamza Talaat, Managing Partner, Baker & McKenzie Egypt – Helmy Hamza & Partners

    Interview: Mr. Mohamed Hamza Talaat, Managing Partner, Baker & McKenzie Egypt – Helmy Hamza & Partners

    A market leader in mergers and acquisitions, project finance and capital markets. Named IFLR Egypt’s “Law Firm of the Year” six times, with its Cairo office, ranked Tier 1 by IFLR1000, Legal500 and Chambers & Partners for Banking & Finance and M&A. With 40 years’ experience in the local market, they are the go-to firm…

  • Interview: Hala Helmy El-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Administrative Reform of Egypt

    Interview: Hala Helmy El-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Administrative Reform of Egypt

    The Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform’s vision is to ensure efficient planning and management of the state’s public investments. It seeks sustainable economic development by ensuring the state’s administrative body becomes increasingly more effective, efficient, and capable of managing state resources to provide quality services to citizens. How do you assess Vision 2030’s…

  • Interview: Mohamed Farid, Chief executive officer, The Egyptian Exchange (EGX)

    Interview: Mohamed Farid, Chief executive officer, The Egyptian Exchange (EGX)

    Egypt’s stock exchange, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), comprises two exchanges, Cairo and Alexandria. How do you assess the EGX performance? In 2017 the EGX had five initial public offerings (IPO) amounting to 4 billion with 46% being demanded by foreign investors. In 2018 we saw three IPO’s. In 2019 we will see several primary offerings from the public sector include: Banque du…

  • The Ministry of Health is implementing an ambitious plan to develop and modernize public hospitals and treatment centers throughout Egypt

    The Ministry of Health is implementing an ambitious plan to develop and modernize public hospitals and treatment centers throughout Egypt

    According to the United Nations, Egypt’s population surpassed 100 million in 2018. This has caused health infrastructure to suffer under the pressure of the growing population.  In 2014 Egypt had 1.5 beds per 1 000 of the population, this decreased to 1.46 in 2015 and 1.36 in 2016. Egypt’s infrastructure and services require exponential growth…

  • Fastest growing tourist destination globally

    Fastest growing tourist destination globally

    The government is actively pushing to reposition Egypt’s tourism and return it to its pre-revolution glory days. Egypt’s tourism sector has historically been a vital driver of the economy and a critical source of foreign currency. Its historical heritage has and will continue to attract global wonder which in itself has caused underinvestment in crucial…

  • Egypt’s education system is by far the largest in the region

    Egypt’s education system is by far the largest in the region

    Private non-profit education institutions are increasingly taking the lead and spearheading quality education in Egypt. Since 2014, Egypt’s focus on improving the private and public education sector has increased significantly. Vision 2030 has called for an overhaul of the current educational system and looks ambitious and promising. Serious efforts to modernize the education sector from…

  • Egypt is considered one of the fastest-growing offshore destinations in the world and its BPO and IT industries are gaining global market share

    Egypt is considered one of the fastest-growing offshore destinations in the world and its BPO and IT industries are gaining global market share

    Egypt’s ICT sector is one of the fastest economic contributors to GDP. The overall revenues for the sector in 2018 surpassed EUR 4 000 million and are expected to reach EUR 5 100 million by 2020. The growth rate reached 14.1% in 2017/2018, against 12.5% in 2016/2017 The government has invested heavily in telecom infrastructure.…

  • Eight percent of global shipping transits Egypt’s Suez Canal

    Eight percent of global shipping transits Egypt’s Suez Canal

    The Egyptian government is implementing an ambitious strategy to improve and develop the transport sector to enhance the state resources and benefit on Egypt’s strategic location. Egypt has 108 000 kilometers of roads and 9 750 kilometers of railways, along with 20 airports, 15 harbors and a series of land ports. Transport and logistics represented…

  • New sector specific mega industrial zones in Egypt seek to improve valued added export capabilities

    New sector specific mega industrial zones in Egypt seek to improve valued added export capabilities

    Egypt streamlined its industrial licensing processes to boost investment. They slash bureaucracy and decrease the waiting time for new projects. The industry sector is the second biggest economic sectors in the country representing more than a third of the GDP and more than 13% of the total labor force. In 2014, Egypt started a series…

  • New Administrative Capital in Cairo

    New Administrative Capital in Cairo

    Since the day the Pharaohs commissioned the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt has been home to vast mega-projects. Today is no exception, with the Suez Canal to the ongoing New Administrative Capital, presented as the biggest planned city of all time, Egypt has been living up to its Ancient ancestors. In March 2015, Egyptian Minister…

  • A growing population in Egypt demands quality housing

    A growing population in Egypt demands quality housing

    One of the best solutions for Egypt’s constant overpopulation of cities has been urban expansion. It is part of an ambitious government plan to build new cities on the outskirts of every major governorate in Egypt. The Egyptian real estate sector has historically proven resilient to economic and political tensions over the past decade and…

  • Becoming an Energy Hub: From blackouts to exports, the Egyptian energy sector has made a complete 360 in the past five years

    Becoming an Energy Hub: From blackouts to exports, the Egyptian energy sector has made a complete 360 in the past five years

    Egypt’s oil and gas sector was on a downward spiral for years due to the impact of the Arab Spring, the unfolding of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the military coup. The country could not even keep its lights on five years ago. In 2013, due to a series of blackouts, factories were forced to shut…

  • Zohr: Massive new natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean will meet and exceed Egypt’s national demand for years.

    Zohr: Massive new natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean will meet and exceed Egypt’s national demand for years.

    Egypt is the third-largest dry natural gas producer on the continent and the largest non-OPEC oil producer in Africa. In addition, the Suez Canal and Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline (SUMED) are strategic high-security global transit routes for oil shipped from the GCC to Europe and the United States.  Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa,…

  • Egypt’s growing population is reinforcing economic growth while severely straining national resources

    Egypt’s growing population is reinforcing economic growth while severely straining national resources

    Egypt’s demographic boom has been a blessing to the economy. As the largest consumer market in the Middle East every sector of the economy can confidently expect sales to increase backed by national demographic trends. The needs of the growing population provide massive investment potential, and the private sector continues to find new opportunities to…

  • New Investment Law in Egypt

    New Investment Law in Egypt

    The landmark new investment law, ratified in 2017, changed the landscape of business in Egypt. The law has modernized and reduced barriers to how international companies invest and operate in Egypt, offering incentives, simplifying the processes, guaranteeing protection from decisions that are arbitrary or capricious, and providing new tools to ease establishing, starting and operating…

  • Egypt’s economic fundamentals are improving, and at 5.4% GDP growth it is the fastest growing country in the region

    Egypt’s economic fundamentals are improving, and at 5.4% GDP growth it is the fastest growing country in the region

    Egypt is the regions fifth-largest economy and increasingly on the global investment map. According to the International Monetary Fund Egypt was the third largest economy in Africa with a GDP of EUR 208 682 million in 2017 after Nigeria’s EUR 331 061 million and South Africa at EUR 304 642 million. Egypt’s economic fundamentals in…

  • Egypt’s evolving socio-economic dynamics evolve amongst social and religious frictions

    Egypt’s evolving socio-economic dynamics evolve amongst social and religious frictions

    Historically, the Arab Republic of Egypt has been fundamental to the development of the Middle East and North Africa. To this day, Egyptian political thought and cultural influence echoes throughout MENA. Egypt remains an influential actor in the region, pushing towards the path of further economic and political stability.   History: It is impossible to…

  • Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030

    Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030

    “The new Egypt will possess a competitive, balanced and diversified economy, dependent on innovation and knowledge, based on justice, social integrity and participation, characterized by a balanced and diversified ecological collaboration system, investing the ingenuity of place and humans to achieve sustainable development and to improve Egyptians’ life quality,” Egypt Vision 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy.…