SINGAPORE—ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia is constructing a new purpose-built MRO facility at Subang Airport as it reaches capacity from growing business aviation activities in the region.
Construction is expected to commence in October and is scheduled to complete by the end of 2023. The company made the announcement on the sidelines of Selangor Aviation Show in Kuala Lumpur.
Once completed, the new facility will have a gross floor area of approximately 149,500 ft.2, more than double the 65,200 ft.2 available at present. The hangar will be able to accommodate 15 large business jets such as the Gulfstreams G550 and the Dassault Falcon 8x.
Graeme Duckworth, president of ExecuJet MRO Services, tells The Weekly Of Business Aviation that Subang remains the company’s preferred airport to operate from as it is “easy to use.” Once Kuala Lumpur’s international airport, Subang is now primarily used for business aviation. ExecuJet MRO has a 45-year lease on land at the airport, which Duckworth says makes it a “very viable proposition” to host its enlarged facility.
Moving ahead, the focus for the MRO is to expand its capabilities to service aircraft types from parent company Dassault as well as Bombardier and Gulfstream, as well as increase backshop capabilities such as ancillary and interior work, component overhaul and its battery offering, making the Subang unit a “one-stop shop.”
Duckworth says that its franchise in China, ExecuJet Haite, is witnessing a pickup in work, especially in pre-purchase inspections. Sales activity in China has increased as local owners are letting go of aircraft assets.
As the world recovers from the pandemic, he also notes that more wealthy people who previously did not own an aircraft are increasingly acquiring them.
“Pre-owned aircraft, available for sale have reduced dramatically over the past couple of years, showing that people are buying business jets. All OEMs are also recording quite large backlogs of orders,” Duckworth adds.
He sees the trend being driven by the decrease in connectivity from airlines and the lack of capacity at airports, which often results in cancellations. High-net-worth individuals are looking to avoid these issues by buying their own aircraft, Duckworth says.
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