Story ID: 350
Metrojet Plans Broader Regional Presence
By: Anthony Lam
Caption: Metrojet pioneered business aviation in Hong Kong but is now developing in Singapore and the Philippines, with a new hangar planned.
Word Count: 529
Metrojet, the Hong Kong International Airport-based business aviation specialist, is building its team as it develops a wider presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

A fews days before ABACE 2018, AIN spoke with Patrick Bouvry, Metrojet’s new appointed director of aircraft management about the company’s future, operations, and what affects its recent management transition may have on the company’s business and operating culture.

“I am honoured to join Metrojet’s team at a time where efficiency is redefining our industry. As a recognized pioneer in the region, Metrojet is embarking on a journey to new heights.” said Bouvry.

Bouvry noted that just several years ago, there may have been only five or so major management companies. Since then, there have been major changes along with a whole new outlook for the market. “There are a new lot of players–more than 20. This has brought the market to a highly competitive and low-cost state where companies need to stay efficient to operate competitively.”.

Bouvry has worked in Hong Kong for more than six years and brings with him more than two decades of experience covering a wide range of commercial and strategic roles within the aviation field. Prior to Metrojet he held senior management positions at Asian Sky Group, Skyservice Business Aviation, Execaire and Bombardier Aerospace in Canada.

Bouvry is confident that Metrojet is headed toward the requisite level of efficiency, where a combination of attitude, culture, responsiveness, expertise, language, and cultural abilities all play important roles in delivering value to clients.

“The next step is consolidation–with smaller companies being sold or merged with larger groups. The better organized they are, the better service they can offer,” added Bouvry, signaling that the industry may be seeing more mergers and/or acquisitions in the near future.

As of Q1 2018, Metrojet has 18 aircraft under management. In the short term, Bouvry sees Metrojet focusing its resources on streamlining its operations so that they run more efficiently to better serve its clients. “We’re going to be here in the next 20 years. We helped pioneer business aviation in Hong Kong and will continue to invest significant resources and dedication to the business,” he promised, adding that Metrojet had also opened an office in Singapore, at Seletar Airport.

Metrojet (Booth H2614) currently has several projects under its belt, including a potential state-of-the-art hangar facility in the Philippines under consideration, and it is setting its sights on a Chinese AOC in conjunction with a joint venture with a mainland Chinese company in the longer term.

Gary Dolski, CEO, announced at ABACE that the company has added two more managed aircraft to its fleet this year, and "We are in the final stages of presenting for board approval the building of a state-of-the-art business jet hangar facility for parking and aircraft maintenance in the Philippines."

Here at ABACE the compamy also announced that its Philippines facility–Metrojet Engineering Clark–had completed "on schedule" its first 12C inspection on a Gulfstream 350. It is now planning another 60-month inspection on a Bombardier 5000, scheduled for May.