Why visit ACE ’25?
Aegle Aviation, which has offices in Hong Kong, China and Aruba, has been ferrying PPE for overseas charity organisations and repatriating international students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, one of its owners opted to place an aircraft on Aegle's charter certificate, under the company's Aruban AOC. “Presently the aircraft has been busy in China flying because of the pandemic and travel restrictions imposed by many other countries,” comments CEO Joyce Kee. “Along with more people vaccinated over the world and people’s higher sense of safety in private travel, we expect a big bounce back in flights, what you might call ‘revenge flying’; this will help support the private chartering and jet management business in a positive way. We have also been helping several new aircraft owners as consultants to purchase pre-owned business jets in this region as, for some of them, it is believed to be a good time to buy low.”
Gulfstream and Bombardier types remain popular choices for private jet owners. Kee says that large jets tend to dominate in the region, as users like the option of trans-pacific capability and larger cabins for entertaining. “Some owners are particular about the ramp presence,” she reveals.
“The main challenges for us as a private jet management and consultancy company under the pandemic are the need to continue our work away from our offices and help our crew when they are quarantined or away from home for a long period of time. Under low flying mode, we need to be more conscious about aircraft maintenance and keep abreast of different countries’ travel policies and restrictions, in case there are any personalised travel needs from our managed fleet owners.
“I don’t look at it negatively, as a lot of things that we couldn’t do. Instead we can now take a step back, and look at our systems, our people, our processes and find enhancements, and interestingly this year we have taken on new consultancy projects. Many people are working hard to prepare for the economy coming back stronger post COVID.”
Aegle hopes to continue growing its managed fleet, provide charter revenue to help owners offset costs, and expand its consultancy services. The company was founded eight years ago, as Kee and her team came across aircraft owners who were distraught by bad and irresponsible service within the industry. “Our mission is to provide our owners with a positive ownership experience, and over time, become their trusted partner. This industry has evolved dramatically and over time, through consolidation, the market has seen a polarisation of scale between one to two aircraft in a fleet to the larger players with more than 20 aircraft. We believe Aegle, with its unique setup and top management who are also aircraft owners and founders of the company, will be poised to provide aircraft owners with a personal and positive experience.”