U.S. publication: Thailand’s MJets best in Asia

MJets, a private jet handling company in Thailand, was rated among the world’s best business jet-handling operators and the best in Asia, according to a survey of readers by United States-based Aviation International News. MJets is co-owned by William Heinecke, an American-born businessman who is now a Thai citizen.

Readers ranked MJets the fourth-best fixed-based operator (FBO) in the world, and the only operator in Asia to finish in the top ten. FBO services are aeronautical services such as fuelling, hangar services, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance and other services for corporate and private aircraft.

Aviation International News asked its readers to evaluate fixed-base operators they visited the previous year in five categories: line service; passenger amenities; pilot amenities; facilities; and customer service representatives.

Most other top-ten ranked jet handlers were European firms, with performer TAG Farnborough at Farnborough Airport finishing first, followed by Xjet, also at Stansted.

MJets closest competitors in Asia were Execujet Middle East, based at Dubai International Airport, and Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre at Hong Kong International Airport. They finished 13th and 19th, respectively.

MJets operates out of Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok. It also runs international FBO operations in New Delhi, India and in Yangon, Myanmar with the Myanmar MJets Business Aviation Center.

The company was founded in 1995, but only became operational in 2007. Last September, it opened its new state-of-the-art facility at Don Muang, which was the capital’s main international gateway until the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport in 2006. Both Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi are operating at full capacity.

The MJets fleet consists of six jets from Cessna and Gulfstream. The firm bills itself as providing an “unrivalled executive aviation experience positioned in the heart of Asia … with fleets and services that are both versatile and luxurious.”

Its advertised services include aircraft charter, air ambulance, maintenance and AOG (aircraft on ground) service, aircraft management, airworthiness management, and VIP protection.

William Heinecke co-owns MJets with Nishita Shah. Heinecke was the son of a Voice of America correspondent based in Thailand. A dedicated entrepreneur, he entered business as a teenager by founding an office cleaning service, moved on to run the local unit of Ogilvy and Mather advertising, and eventually introduced American-style fast food to Thailand.

Since then, he has built a hotel empire, a successful retail division that imports global brands to Thailand, as well as his food companies that are both his own creations and international franchises.