Elit'Avia (EAV, Ljubljana) is set to expand into Asia with the planned launch of its Elit'Avia Asia (Hong Kong International) unit with offices in Hong Kong and Bangkok, AIN Online has reported.

The move comes after the Singapore-based Ojets (Singapore Seletar) downgraded plans to take full control of Elit'Avia in June 2018 and decided to only acquire a 30% stake in the Slovenian business aircraft management, charter and services operator. Ojets said at that time that the economics of Elit'Avia did not merit a full takeover.

Mark Thibault, an ex-Ojets executive, will lead Elit'Avia's Asian business as a managing director.

The Slovenian company sees significant market demand for its services in Asia due to the fact that a large part of the locally-operated business aircraft are around six-year-old, at which point the demand for aircraft management and second-hand sales is the biggest.

Meanwhile, Ojets will continue to cooperate with Elit'Avia and operate its own aircraft under Elit'Avia Malta's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).