Just after the turn of the century, South African MRO ExecuJet branched out of it base in Lanseria to cross the Indian Ocean to Australia. The company set up business at Sydney International in October 2000, hoping to gain a foothold in the Oceania region.
That was 25 years ago. Today ExecuJet has 100 people working in bases in Sydney, Melbourne/Essendon, Brisbane, Perth, Wellington and Auckland, providing both line and heavy maintenance for corporate jets, and FBO services.
It would seem the move paid off with further expansion to NZ coming in 2021, when ExecuJet set up Part 145 operations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
ExecuJet Regional VP Australasia Grant Ingall pointed out that the company's success in Oceania comes back to the staff.
“Twenty-five years is more than a number; it's a testament to the dedicated people who built this company from the ground up," he said. We've cultivated a culture where quality workmanship, attention to detail and outstanding customer service are paramount.
"The expertise in our hangars today is the direct result of that focus and our team's relentless commitment.”
ExecuJet Australasia's workforce includes licensed aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians as well as apprentices and technical trainees. During a time of skills shortages in aircraft maintenance, ExecuJet has been able to retain and source the right people.
“Our greatest asset is our people," Ingall stresses. "We have engineers who've grown with us for decades, and we're equally committed to mentoring the next generation.
"That combination of deep experience and new energy is what keeps us competitive and responsive to our customers' evolving needs."
ExecuJet was founded in Johannesburg in 1991, but in 2019 was bought by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault. The company now employs around 1000 people in 27 locations around the world, supporting nearly 200 corporate jets, including those of other OEMs such as Gulfstream, Embraer and Bombardier.