Business & GA

Swiss business aviation group ExecuJet is to expand its operations in Asia by starting up a new hangar that will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services to Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft in Singapore.

Business aviation has taken off in Asia during the past few years, but expansion has been hampered by a shortage of proper MRO facilities. ExecuJet has also boosted its Australian operations with new MRO facilities in Melbourne and Sydney.

The company is also the international sales distributor for the Aerion Supersonic Business Jet, and has just signed letters of intent for three SSBJs in India and has inked a deal with Pakistan's Akbar Group for a further aircraft in November.

"Asia, and India in particular, represent exciting growth markets for business aviation and it is fair to say that the Aerion SSBJ has captured a lot of interest there," says Aerion managing director Gerrit Basson.

Aerion plans to recruit a manufacturing partner for the SSBJ by early 2009, and hopes to achieve certification and service entry for the aircraft by 2014.