South African-owned aircraft management company Execujet has added Mexico to its growing list of non-US locations. With 500 business aircraft, the country is the fourth largest market for business aircraft after the USA, the European Union and Brazil, and is an obvious target, according to Roberto Zambrano Villarreal, director general of the new venture.
Execujet, which has its head office in Zug, Switzerland, is the sales agent or sole distributor for Bombardier business aircraft in 25 countries, but will initially only offer aircraft management at the Monter- rey facility, says Gr‚gor Koncilja, director of aircraft management. Bombardier business aircraft sales are handled by Jet Mach, which was responsible for securing recent government deals, including the Mexican coast guard's acquisition of Canadair CL-415 amphibian aircraft for special missions.
Execujet Switzerland, which established the new venture with the flight department of Mexican cement giant Cemex, is hoping eventually to represent Bombardier in Mexico. "We are leaving any door open to develop partnerships already established in other countries," says Koncilja. Execujet Mexico is also the distributor for the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft in the country.
Zambrano says that he expects Execujet Mexico's managed fleet to double from its current five aircraft next year. Mexico suffers from a centralised air transport network and a culture of pilots assuming far too much managerial control,says Zambrano.
Source: Flight International
