Air Charter Service’s (ACS) Asia Pacific offices have seen charter numbers rise by 59 per cent compared to 2014, with strikes in the US West coast seaports helping the cargo division.
ACS says all three divisions at its China office in Beijing and in Hong Kong have seen large year-on-year increases. At its Beijing and Hong Kong offices, ACS offers private, cargo and group charters. ACS managing director for Asian offices, Stephen Fernandez says the company has increased staff numbers by more than 50 per cent to cope with demand.
Fernandez says: “Obviously the West coast port strike in the US gave us a massive boost at the beginning of the year on the cargo side but, even taking those figures out, charter numbers are up by 59 per cent on last year.”
Fernandez says he expects business to keep growing in Asia Pacific, as the region becomes more economically important. “The Asian market is maturing with many more aircraft being based in, and coming to, the region. ACS established our Hong Kong operation several years ago, at the beginning of the boom, so we are now showing our wealth of experience.”
The news in Asia Pacific follows the news that ACS has seen business increase by 41 per cent in the first six months of 2015, with cargo surging by 60 per cent during the time period.