32 business
efficiency, putting executives into locations and
markets more flexibly, saving time, and getting
more productivity out of highly paid people than
when they travel on airlines,’’ says Wood.
Financial crisis
Jet Asia’s chief executive officer is moderately
optimistic about the company’s operations as the
world reels from the effects of the global cash crisis.
Woods believes that while markets have been hit, Jet
Asia’s client base has been less affected than some.
“We think that the high end of the market in
Asia will be spared to a degree, so we believe that
the people who have flown on private aircraft in the
past will continue to fly,’’ he says.
The company is aggressively exploring new
marketing channels, particularly seeking compa-
nies that want their own private jet, but can’t afford
it at present.
Woods has recognised a “noticeable roll back’’.
“People, who ordinarily would charter and people
who were considering the purchase of a business air-
craft are delaying their decision,’’ he says. However,
the company expects to increase the number of week-
ly flights from eight last year to 13 or 14 in 2009.
The increase in operations is possible thanks to
the six new Hawkers, which were ordered in 2007
and were recently delivered.
“It’s a nice mid-size jet, very flexible, very ca-
pable for basing around the region, with a good cab-
in size and a good price structure,’’ Woods says.
The Jet Asia CEO says the planes are ideal for
people who want to fly from the SAR to the main-
land, those who rely on speed and convenience and
may want to go in the morning and return in the af-
ternoon: “These people don’t want to pay the more
Chopper changes
expensive price for the bigger aircraft,’’ he says.
Bigger jet
S
tanley Ho’S Sky Shuttle
Helicopters plans to take
delivery of its first august
Jet Asia is also looking into buying an execu-
Westland aW139 helicopter in
tive airliner, either McDonnell Douglas MD-83 or
the first quarter of 2009. the new
a Boeing 737-300/400.
aircraft should go into service
Woods says it is difficult to find the right con-
verted airliner and that the company has seen a
on the Hong Kong-Macau route
number of them but disqualified most.
in april. the company ordered
“We believe that this size product is very in-
six aW139s in 2007 to replace its aging fleet of five Sikorsky
teresting for a number of companies in the region,
S-76C+ helicopters which are to be gradually phased out. the
such as casino junket operators, MICE package ac- new rotary-wing aircraft offer technologically advanced avionics,
tivities or golf tournament organisers who arrange
enhanced performance and greater passenger comfort. Sky
tours to several cities,’’ he says.
Shuttle Helicopters is also spending around HKD130 million
The decision to buy such an asset was due to
(uS$17 million) to improve the heliport and departure lounge
be taken during 2008, but Woods says delaying the
on the rooftop of Hong Kong’s Shun tak Center. the project
decision to 2009 is the more prudent option.
Jet Asia was established in 1997, to provide
is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2009. the
STDM with flexible travel solutions. It is wholly-
company started an 18-year lease on the helipad last July. Sky
owned by STDM, and has eight jets in its fleet ca-
Shuttle provides helicopter shuttle services between Hong Kong
pable of transporting from eight to 18 passengers. A and Macau, and Macau and Shenzhen.
ninth aircraft is due to arrive soon.
february 2009
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