25 Years of Effortless Aircraft Ownership & Operations
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of APAC Flight Services, we speak with the team to learn more about their journey and how they continue to bring life to our promise of seamless flight, every day.
In 2001, Jet Aviation landed in Hong Kong, bringing dispatch services for its aircraft-managed clients across Asia-Pacific (APAC). It then opened a maintenance station at Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC), obtained a San Marino air operator certificate (AOC), and became a signatory carrier under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
25 years on, our APAC Flight Services team has grown into a trusted aircraft management partner, with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and San Marino. At the heart of that trust is our commitment to effortless aircraft ownership and operations.
The people behind flight support services
At the outset, our Flight Support Service team supported flight requests for clients across APAC as a private, non-commercial operator. Today, the team manages every detail of flight planning – from acquiring permits and arranging fuel to securing ground-handling services for safe and efficient turnarounds. Sharing the legal responsibility with the pilots, the team monitors every flight operation from the ground, securing time-critical permits when plans shift or the weather changes.
In 2023, the team made a significant leap forward in obtaining an AOC for San Marino, which effectively authorized them as a commercial operator. Now able to offer charter services on its managed aircraft, clients can better utilize their assets for what they are intended – flight.
Building on that momentum, the team became a signatory carrier under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2025, further allowing them to support passenger flight requests from eligible countries into the United States without first having to acquire a visa.
The people behind maintenance
To meet the maintenance needs of clients’ aircraft, the APAC Flight Services team began performing minor maintenance work as required. In 2008, the team expanded its maintenance operations after receiving Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) approval, which authorized the facility to offer line maintenance and provide AOG support under applicable approvals at HKBAC.
Operating an effective maintenance repair station at one of the busiest aviation hubs in APAC demands seamless coordination. The team is small but agile, carrying out a wide range of line maintenance activities, while dedicated AOG experts support requests from across the region.
The range of work has since outgrown the original space. This year, the Hong Kong MRO team moved into a newly refreshed location at HKBAC. Designed to enable seamless collaboration between our teams and clients, the new facility brings tools, people, and capabilities under one roof.
The people behind technical services
The business aviation sector in Asia was still developing. As pioneers, the team was responsible for establishing what was needed with much less guidance. They began by formalizing a technical services team to oversee the airworthiness of aircraft throughout their operational life. “Our clients want peace of mind when they fly. An effortless experience. Our highest duty is to ensure their aircraft are safe and always ready to fly,” says Fabien Rousse, Director Technical Services.
When the team first started, they relied largely on email and Excel spreadsheets to plan and track maintenance activities. They worked hard to develop timely regulatory standards and meet new mandatory maintenance directives as they were introduced.
Today, the team manages aircraft across seven regulatory frameworks, backed by its own established manuals, compliance matrices, and technical expertise.
The people behind flight operations
An unwavering commitment to excellence has been a defining quality of the business since Jet Aviation established its presence in APAC. Every flight reflects the care our flight crew puts into planning, maintenance, and technical oversight.
In the cockpit, pilots help ensure every flight is safe and seamless, maintaining close contact with the Flight Support Services team on the ground, as schedules, routes, or weather conditions change. In the cabin, our crew creates a welcoming environment, reassuring clients so they can relax and enjoy the journey.
Leading the delivery of personalized in-flight experience is Loretta Lin, Senior Manager, Inflight Service, and champion of bespoke hospitality. Beyond training crews in fine dining, cultural etiquette, and safety, Loretta regularly leads sessions designed to help cabin crew understand customer preferences and add a personal touch to every flight.
The people behind client aviation services
As aircraft ownership grew more complex ― from flight scheduling and insurance to billing and maintenance ― a dedicated Client Aviation Services team was established to manage these moving parts through a single point of contact.
Over time, many of these customer relationships developed into trusted partnerships.
“One project I remember overseeing was an aircraft delivery for a customer in Seattle. The teamwork was remarkable. From our completions team in Basel and our technical services team in Zurich and our team in APAC, we all worked together to deliver a seamless transatlantic project,” recalls Dany Helfenstein, Client Aviation Services Director.
That kind of trust is not built overnight. It is developed and earned through consistent commitment to service excellence.
The people behind safety and quality assurance
Underpinning all these services is Jet Aviation’s culture of safety and quality assurance.
As the business continues to grow through its San Marino AOC and wider NCC operations, the team takes a proactive and risk-based approach to maintaining the highest safety standards and meeting every regulatory requirement.
Working closely with Flight Operations, Crew Training, Flight Support Services, and Maintenance teams, the Safety and Quality Assurance team drives practical, measurable improvements that strengthen the business, every day.
Jet Aviation’s people: the effort behind effortless
The seamless experience clients see on every flight is made possible by the dedication of the people behind it. We are proud of our APAC Flight Services team, and all of our aviation artisans, who so tirelessly put clients and their aircraft at the heart of everything they do.
Voices from the team.
