Aircraft

Hawker Pacific set to run Malaysian facility

By Emma Kelly

Australian company Hawker Pacific is expected to announce at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, which runs from 20-22 May in Geneva, that it has been contracted to run Malaysia's first business aviation facility.

The aircraft sales, service and product support specialist is believed to have been signed up as the international partner to run a fixed-based operation and maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at the new SkyPark Subang. Jet Aviation and Execujet also submitted bids for the contract.

SkyPark Subang is part of a 300 million ringitt ($93.3 million) development of Subang's terminal three that is designed to establish an ultra-modern general and corporate aviation hub. Operator Subang SkyPark has a 59-year lease from Malaysia Airport Holdings.

Late in 2007 charter operator VistaJet signed a memorandum of understanding for the provision of charter services from Subang using a Bombardier Challenger 604 and a 605.

Hawker Pacific's win follows recent growth in Asia for the Australian company. Hawker Pacific already operates an FBO and MRO facility in neighbouring Singapore and is hoping to launch operations at a new FBO at China's Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai in 2009 in a joint venture with Shanghai Airport Authority