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International private jet charter company ExecuJet has expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific, with a new private jet terminal based at Auckland International Airport.
The company has acquired the terminal from its former local FBO partner Air Center One and will mark ExecuJet’s first owned and operated fixed-based operator (FBO) facility in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, ExecuJet parent organisation Luxaviation Group is now operating four FBOs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including in Sydney, Melbourne and New Delhi.
The soon-to-be rebranded VIP lounge of Air Center One offers passengers expansive views to the FBO ramp area and offers all the amenities one would expect from a private business lounge, including private meeting rooms.
Passengers can also travel directly to or from overseas, with customs and immigration processing facilities also available in the centre.
Patrick Hansen, CEO of Luxaviation Group, said, “The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most dynamic regions in the world. We are excited to be expanding our global FBO network through this acquisition and offering our services at another major destination in the region.”
Hansen said Air Center One was previously a “long time preferred handling agent” in Auckland, and that the new acquisition will complement a similar third-party agreement held with Capital Jet Services to provide FBO facilities in Wellington.
Auckland Airport is New Zealand’s busiest, with over 2,000 business aircraft movements per year.
International traffic accounts for about 60 per cent of this and includes frequent flights to and from Sydney and Melbourne, as well as various destinations across Asia, the US and parts of the Pacific Islands.
Darren McGoldrick, vice-president, Asia-Pacific, ExecuJet, says: “The Air Center One team is highly experienced and is known for providing high-end service. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to ExecuJet and continuing the world-class FBO amenity service to all existing and new clients.”
Current CEO and founder of Air Centre One, Robin Leach, founded the company in 1964, as the first FBO and corporate jet operator in New Zealand at the time.
McGoldrick said Leach will “remain with the team” following the acquisition, to “ensure the best possible transition”.
Leach said he and his team at Air Center One “understand the needs and requirements of the private traveller and corporate jet aircraft operator”, including the need for superior security and customer privacy.
“As our customers benefit from our experience and critical operational information, we achieved an enviable reputation for our ability to provide additional services of value to the corporate jet operator and passengers. It was important for us to provide the same,” he said.
