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Published on October 24, 2007

Minor Aviation was established in 2006 as an air-charter and maintenance service. Heinecke holds 50 per cent, while an unnamed friend owns the remainder.

"To tap the growing airline business in Asia, Minor Aviation is now providing individuals and groups with comfort and convenience to popular destinations in Thailand and in the region," Heinecke said this week.

Charter flights are charged by the hour, plus parking and landing fees, airport taxes and pilot allowances.

Heinecke said the company expected to make Bt50 million in revenue this year and up to Bt100 million in 2008.

Minor Aviation flies charters to Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and throughout Thailand.

It will soon offer flights to the Middle East, Hong Kong and Japan with its new Cessna Citation X, which has a longer range than the CJ3.

Another Citation X is due for delivery in mid-2008 at a cost of US$21 million (Bt715 million).

Minor Aviation has Civil Aviation Department (CAD) certification to operate an unscheduled charter airline flying out of Don Mueang.

It caters to individuals, corporate clients and celebrities who want fast, flexible, hassle-free, private air transport.

Pilots and mechanics are US-trained and rated and certified in Thailand by the CAD.

Heinecke said the Asia-Pacific region was emerging as the fastest-growing aviation market, with its regional carriers having a 23-per-cent share in the world's airline market by revenue last year - or $119.86 billion. That is third after Europe and North America.

Hong Kong is the major player in the charter market, followed by Singapore.

"We may not beat Hong Kong with our geographical location, because it is aimed at China and other countries. But as for Singapore, we can compete in terms of both location and human resources. Thailand is one of the gateways to Asia in terms of trade and tourism, especially for its connection with Hong Kong and China," he said.

Minor Group is a big player in the luxury hotel and fast-food businesses. In 2005, Royal Garden Resorts and Minor were consolidated into Minor International.

The group operates nine JW Marriott and Four Seasons hotels in Thailand with a total of 1,955 rooms. It has a 122-room Anantara hotel in Vietnam.

Suchat Sritama

 The Nation