TAG Aviation Asia (ABACE Booth H102) said company officials are still in discussions with Chinese charter operator Lily Jet over a partnership that would enable the two companies to benefit from their respective air operator certificates.

 Carlos Gomez, TAG's new CEO, told AIN here in Shanghai that TAG is concentrating on increasing its Hong Kong-based management business. “Lily Jet is also very busy. However, we are not speaking with anybody else in China and our discussions are continuing,” he said.

Gomez also said TAG has experienced a significant surge in growth in Southeast Asia over the past 12 months. “We have seen a huge influx of customers and there is a limited supply of qualified staff to support them. A key issue is finding and retaining pilots. And it is difficult for foreign pilots to fly in certain areas in China,” he said.