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Rapid growth in the Middle Easts business aviation fleet and rising regional ownership of private jets is spurring the local interior design market, according to the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), which represents interiors professionals throughout the Arabian Gulf.

APID President Kenneth Laidler said expansion of the regions business aviation landscape is opening up aircraft interior opportunities beyond the traditional niche practitioners.

"The opportunities are there and it is now up to designers to embark on a learning curve and assimilate the engineering requirements of business jets with aesthetic design to enter this lucrative segment,"said Laidler.

The APID boss was speaking as the Association signed on as an official supporter of the inaugural Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) exhibition, which is planned for Airport Expo Dubai this June. AIME, a dedicated B2B exhibition serving the aircraft interiors sector, has been introduced by Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), the name behind the Dubai Airshow.

"It is important APID is associated with this event as the market is, and will continue to, open up to more conventional designers," said Laidler. "At present, not many designers are specialised in aircraft interior design as this has primarily been a closed market with a handful of contracts going to a few companies. However, as more people own their aircraft and the business aviation fleet grows, we will see more contracts up for grabs, which will spur the industry to sit up and take notice."

"With smaller aircraft, customers are more focused on ergonomics, ambience and luxury as opposed to the big aircraft operators. This desire for quality is encouraging more conventional interior design processes and materials, such as wood, to be used in private aircraft. These trends follow design styles seen more in five-star hotels and luxury yachts, areas which conventional designers are very skilled in."

"This is also being applied on a much larger scale as seen by Prince Al-Walid bin Talals purchase of his A380 Sky Palace at the Dubai Airshow. Many of the interiors for this are being designed by conventional companies."

APIDs backing of the AIME event comes as business aviation in the Middle East is achieving a 40% compound annual growth rate in terms of aircraft movement with analysts forecasting the regions business aviation fleet will double to 600 aircraft over the next five years.

"APID is an important partner as we move into the aircraft interiors segment," said Alison Weller, Director Aerospace, F&E. "By engaging interior designers within the region we are providing them with an educational opportunity to advance their own skills and business opportunities while delivering to exhibitors an influential audience of future specifiers."

AIME, which will run on June 16 and 17 2008, will focus on aircraft and VIP interiors, airline cabin systems and in-flight entertainment. Its exhibitor profile spans design, seating, textiles, finishes, lighting, flooring, galleys and galley equipment, waste management, safety equipment, power supply, lavatory products, laminates, food service equipment, upgrades, replacement parts, cabin systems integration, touch screens, seat interfaces, food products, comfort products, amenity kits, refrigeration, completion centres, security products, biometrics, cockpit doors, medical equipment, air quality products, catering facilities and electrical systems.

The exhibition is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Government of Dubai and President and CEO of the Emirates Group.

To date, 50 exhibitors from 12 countries have signed on for AIME.