PHUKET LIFESTYLE: ‘Phuket a diamond’ for rich jet owners

PHUKET: MJETS is in talks with Airports of Thailand (AOT) about building a private jet terminal at Phuket International Airport (PIA). The move comes on the back of the success of its first private jet terminal at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, the company says.

MJets Executive Chairman, Jaiyavat Navaraj, believes the company’s venture at PIA could put Phuket on the map for private aviators in the region.

Since MJets opened its first terminal at Don Muang, the number of private jets landing there has increased from 25 to 40 flights per month, Mr Jaiyavat says.

The MJets private terminal at PIA is likely to include an executive lounge equipped with luxurious facilities, immigration counters and hangars for parking private jets. MJets will also provide a range of ground services for the jets and their crews and passengers.

“Currently there are around 30 to 35 private jets landing at PIA every month. This is only an average figure. In a high season month there could be as many as 60,” Mr Jaiyavat told the Phuket Gazette.

“Phuket is a diamond among tourist destinations in the region. It is also conveniently located near regional business centers like Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. It also has a complete network of ‘billionaire’s toys’, which include luxurious villas, hotels and yachting facilities.

“If we develop the right facilities here, the island can become a regional hub for private aviation,” Mr Jaiyavat added.

“People who hire private jets demand a lot of convenience and speed. They could use commercial flights, but they do not like to spend three hours at an airport, checking in and passing immigration and baggage collection points every time they travel,” he noted.

Since MJets is an authorized service agent for Cessna aircraft in Thailand, clients who own a Cessna will also be able to service their plane right here in Phuket.

Kraisi Phewkliang, Director of Ground Services at MJets, says the AOT still needs to finalize the location for the construction of the private terminal within the PIA grounds.

Construction costs will depend on the size of land the AOT leases to the company, he added.

— Anand Singh