One of the key parts facility of Boeing's Airline Logistics Support organisation is located in Dubai Airport Free Zone. The centre serves the growing number of Boeing customers in the region as well as other parts of the world.

Because Dubai is considered a crossroads of air commerce, it was selected as one of the locations for the Boeing Customer Service Centre global network. It is centrally located for servicing operators in the Middle East, North Africa, India and the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as carriers flying into this region from other areas.

The Dubai facility is a 3,300 sq m leased facility. It maintains an inventory of 20,000 different kinds of parts worth about $20 million.

Last year, the facility made 1,000 shipments, doubling the figure from 500 recorded in 1998.

The Boeing Company is proud of its long-standing partnerships in the Middle East. For more than 50 years, Boeing has worked closely with regional airlines, governments and businesses to nurture air travel in the Middle East. Boeing is firmly committed to making these partnerships continue long into the future, says a company spokesman.

The Middle East aviation market has grown significantly in recent decades, with more passengers and freight moving aboard steadily modernised airline fleets. The Middle East's increasing population, abundant resources and expanding economic base are expected to spur even stronger air-transport growth in the years ahead, he says.

Apart from the Dafz facility, Boeing Customer Service Centres are located in Seattle, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Singapore, London and Beijing. One more centre is to be opened in Amsterdam soon. These centres serve Boeing customers worldwide and are linked through a computerised inventory control system. The hub of this global network is the new 65,300 sq m main distribution centre near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which houses inventory for more than 400,000 part numbers. This facility features state-of-the-art materials handling systems.

The centres provide fast, next day shipment service on routine spares orders. This service has established a new industry standard, and makes it possible for customers to reduce their own inventory levels and the associated costs. For critical and AOG (airplane on ground) orders, shipments from inventory are prepared in two hours or less.

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Airline Logistics Support processes customer transactions through a computerised inventory control system. On an annual basis, the organisation processes about 1.7 million shipments of spare parts that are sent to more than 1,000 customers around the globe, including more than 700 airlines as well as many repair and overhaul bases. For speed and convenience, customers may place their orders and track shipments through the Boeing Part Page website.

The facility strictly follows exacting FAA safety specifications and is subjected to regular FAA audit.