Bahrain (dpa) – Switzerland- based Comlux Aviation Group and Saudi-based Maz Aviation reached a partnership agreement to set up a new Bahrain-based aircharter service.

The agreement to establish Comlux Middle East Company was announced on the sidelines of the 3-day Bahrain International Air Show BIAS (2010) held last week.

Comlux and MAZ will base two of their Airbus aircraft, an A318 Elite and ACJ, in the region as a first phase, and by the end of this year an Airbus A320 Prestige will be added to the new company fleet when Comlux takes delivery on it.

''A presence in the Middle East is strategic to our VIP aircraft operations in Fly Comlux division. This joint initiative between MAZ and Comlux follows our agreement for Saudi charter sales and represents a new step for our development into the Middle East,'' President of Comlux Group, Richard Gaona said.

Chairman of MAZ Aviation, Mohammed Al Zeer, said that the partnership was part of an effort to provide close support and services to their clients in the Middle East.

The announcement was the second major business deal to be reached on the first day of BIAS 2010.

Earlier Yemenia, the official carrier of Yemen, sealed a deal with Airbus following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding a the Dubai air show last November to buy 10 Airbus planes at a cost of US$700 million.