Business aviation service provider Hawker Pacific will continue on its planned expansion of fixed base operations to locations in Asia and Australia following its surprise contract to operate Shanghai's new corporate terminal.
Sydney-based Hawker Pacific was awarded the joint venture deal with Shanghai Airports Authority to develop a 2,500m2 (27,000ft2) FBO at the Chinese city's secondary Hongqiaoi airport late last year. The contract, which will also include a maintenance facility, saw Hawker Pacific beat global rivals Signature Air Support and Jet Aviation for the right to operate the terminal.
The Shanghai FBO is set to be operational by June 2008, ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
Hawker Pacific business aviation managing director Douglas Hendry says the deal has spurred on further expansion in the region, with work on a temporary new FBO at Singapore Seletar airport to start this month. It will be rebuilt within two years. The company is also actively investigating sites and partners in New Delhi as a next investment, he adds.
Hawker Pacific is also eyeing investment in FBOs at Essendon airport in Melbourne, Australia's busiest private airport, and upgrading its maintenance facility in Perth to include an FBO.
Hendry says total corporate movements in Australia total only around 7,000 annually, so every Australian business aviation terminal investment has to be coupled with aviation support services. Hawker Pacific now operates FBOs at Sydney Kingsford Smith, Brisbane and Cairns airports.
Source: Flight International
