Hong Kong-based business jet operator Metrojet has announced plans to expand its business in Asia.

It plans to form a joint venture with Tata Group's Taj Air to provide aircraft maintenance and management services for the Indian market from a base in Mumbai.

Taj Air, which already has a facility in the Indian city, will upgrade its base. "The current Taj Air facility will undergo an upgrade whilst a larger, more comprehensive facility will be built at a suitable site," says Metrojet.

"Metrojet is proud to embark on this venture and combine with Taj Air to better serve the Indian Market," says Björn Näf, CEO of Metrojet. "Sharing the same values and similar backgrounds, the partnership between Metrojet and Taj Air will continue to develop business aviation service standards to the highest international levels."

On top of the joint venture with Taj Air, Metrojet also announced it will develop a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Manila's Clark Airport. It expects to complete the 40,000 sq ft facility in early 2012. The base will offer the aircraft maintenance services and support available now in Hong Kong, says Metrojet. "Metrojet will also expand the range of services to include avionics upgrades, interior refurbishment, and exterior paintwork for aircraft," it adds.

It expects to carry out ground breaking for the facility in the next 60 days. "Metrojet believes embarking on this venture will better serve the growing demand for quality engineering and maintenance services for the Asian business aviation market," says Näf. "We will continue to expand our business to support the growing demand from business aviation, and we believe by choosing Clark, with its close proximity to Hong Kong, this will allow us to remain the leading business aviation company in Asia."

Source: Flight Daily News

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