Charter broker Air Partner aims to have completed its core global network by early 2004 as it opens its first regional office in South-East Asia. Air Partner opened its representative office at Singapore's Seletar Airport in partnership with local broker Watts Aviation in a move that could be repeated in the Far East.
David Saville, managing director of Air Partner, says that after the opening of a Singapore office, together with its 18 existing offices in Europe, the Middle East and North America, there are only "two major corporate aviation centres left without an Air Partner presence". Saville identifies the West Coast of the USA and the "Orient" as the "two holes in its coverage" and that the gaps should be filled within 12 months.
Saville says that a West Coast representation, likely to be in southern California, is planned by the end of the year. Air Partner's second representative office in Asia-Pacific will be set up by March 2004, he adds. The office will cover the China, Korea and Japan region.
Saville says that partnership in Singapore with Watts Aviation was obvious since it is the market leader in the region. "We wanted a local expert who we could trust to reach our standards," says Saville.
Air Partner's plan is to become a global brand for aircraft providers, as many flight departments of multinational companies are demanding global coverage, says Saville.
Smaller markets, such as Australia, southern Africa and South America will be covered by establishing links with local charter brokers, with the company focusing on "quality not quantity" in the core markets, he adds.
Source: Flight International
