Hong Kong, a key hub in Asia for commercial aviation, is the base for a new and fast-growing organisation aiming to promote business aviation by executive jets in the region.

The Asian Business Aviation Association (ABAA), set up by managing director of Hong Kong-based Metrojet Ltd Mark Turner, has 22 members who include aircraft manufacturers as well as business jet operators and firms providing support services for business aviation.

“I am very optimistic we will be a viable voice for business aviation in the region. Having led the effort to set it up, I wanted Hong Kong to be the base for ABAA because of its geographical location in the heart of the region. It is a place which is central to all our members,” Mr Turner said.

The members include Jet Asia in nearby Macau, Jet Aviation from Singapore, and Universal Weather and Aviation from the Philippines. US members include Gulfstream, Cessna, United Technologies and the National Business Aircraft Association, the American forerunner to the ABAA. German company Aircraft Conformance Engineering Service has also signed up.

ABAA’s base in Hong Kong was boosted by support from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and aviation authorities in the Chinese mainland.

“Nothing says more about the vitality of a country’s economy than landing at its national airport and seeing a host of private business jets on the ramp. People fly in business jets to do business. They are a tool for making money.”

Mr Turner said the ABAA’s top priority was to gain acceptance as a group operating as a voice for business aviation, a sector of the industry that was less well developed in Asia than in other regions. ABAA aims to help governments establish regulatory structures for corporate aviation, press for fee reductions for business jets and grant rapid clearance to overfly their territories.

Metrojet operates an eight-seat Hawker 700 and an 11-seat Gulfstream IV. Most of the company’s business is regional, split evenly between the Chinese mainland and the Asia-Pacific region. A small portion of the business – but one that is growing - is operating flights to the US and Europe.