David Willis: Flying Colours Links With China’s Metrojet

Chinese business aviation services provider Metrojet and Peterboro, Ontario-based Flying Colours Corp. signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the National Business Aviation Association convention under which the Canadian company will open a base in Hong Kong.

It will provide interior refurbishment for a range of midsize to large business jets, including the Bombardier Challenger and Global series, Dassault Falcons, Embraer Legacys, Hawkers and Gulfstreams. Ratification of the MoU is expected in mid-2012 and will mark the first time that Flying Colours has partnered with an international company.

In recent years, Flying Colours has seen an increasing percentage of its work originating from outside North America. The growing importance of Asia – especially China – as a market for business aircraft and services made it the logical choice for expansion, says CEO John Gillespie. The company has contracts to outfit five Bombardier Challenger 850s for Chinese customers, the first of which was handed over to Metrojet in December 2010 for operation by a private client.

Metrojet is Hong Kong’s only fully licensed business jet operator and provides a complete range of business aviation services. “This partnership will enhance our brand and our position in aircraft refurbishments and completions in the region,” said CEO Björn Näf. “It will enable us to better serve the Asian market and to further enhance our service offering and product portfolio to our growing customer list.”

In March, Metrojet also announced its intention to form a joint venture with Taj Air, part of the Tata Group of India, that will offer maintenance and management services at Mumbai to serve the growing Indian business aviation market.

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