JavaJet Asia, whose ceo Wando is pictured with administration executives Astrid Prahitaningtyas and Susi Lowati, predicts growing charter demand in the Asia Pacific region

JavaJet Asia predicts growing Asia Pacific demand for international private charter

JavaJet Asia has established a broker as well as a fleet provider role in the Far East, a region where local knowledge is critical.

Wando Suripto, founder and director, points out: "Indonesia is a 'country of the archipelago' with more than 13,000 islands of which only half are inhabited. We know our way round this complex geography and have a good knowledge of other countries in the Far East."

He adds: "JavaJet Asia is handling a growing number of itineraries for the international air charter market and this means providing a quality service to major charter brokers and operators worldwide. Clients include heads of state, royal families, show business stars and politicians as well as businessmen and tourists.

Wando says that the Jakarta-based company, which has acted since its launch three years ago as a sales and marketing agent for Premiair, has built business relationships with international brokers and operators. "Clients often request us to source aircraft outside our main fleet due to our extensive local knowledge, network and the trust that we have built up over the years. Demand is growing for private charter in the region."

Javajet Asia, which is also a member of the Asian Business Aircraft Association and has applied to join the Baltic Air Charter Association, provides aircraft including the 13-seat Legacy 600, the 18-seat Embraer 120 and a number of Grand Caravans. "We have the only vip-configured airliner in south east Asia, the 35-seat Fokker 100 vip," Wando adds. He estimates that around 60% of JavaJet Asia's business comes from the Asia Pacific region and 40% services national demand.

Indonesia is rich in mineral resources and for decades has attracted multinational oil and mining companies. Chevron, Total, Premier Oil, Marathon Oil, HESS, Conoco-Philips, Newmont, INCO and many others have regular charter requirements.

Wando predicts: "The demand will last for many years to come. Indonesia is a populous country which has also attracted many investors in manufacturing. When plants and factories are built ceos of the involved international companies come and go on a regular basis. Some of them have such tight schedules that they have no choice but to charter a private jet."

The attractions of a jet for internal flights becomes appar-ent, he says, through a study of the size of Indonesia. "From Aceh in the west of the country to Jayapura in the east, the flight takes seven hours. However it takes less than two hours to fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok and itineraries need to take this and many complicated logistics into account."