Ground handling specialist Universal Aviation is expanding its network in the Asia Pacific region with a new subsidiary in the Maldives. The new Universal Aviation Maldives operation, which is a joint venture with luxury vacation group Inner Maldives, will start services by early June at Malé International Airport. It will also provide support at Gan Airport, as well as offering specially negotiated rates for local hotels and tours.

“In addition to the operational benefits Universal Aviation Maldives will provide our clients, we also expect the location to boost the local economy with new jobs and improve international standards and recurrent training for business aviation throughout the country,” said Charlie Mularski, Universal’s regional Asia Pacific vice president. “We are looking forward to working closely with the Maldives government to continue to identify ways in which it can further improve the country’s aviation infrastructure, leading to further growth and development.”

Meanwhile, Universal also has just started providing customer service and ramp safety training to Thailand’s PGGS, which is a ground handler at Koh Samui International Airport. One of the issues, Universal will try to address is to improve aircraft parking arrangements at the airport, since these are currently restricted. The company’s Thailand operation is assigning colleagues to support PGGS staff.

“The first change operators will notice is condensed parking on the new ramp located on the west side, where with the help and support of Universal Aviation Thailand training and supervision, we will increase the available parking capacity significantly,” said Sumalee Chaitientong, vice president for ancillary revenues at Koh Samui Airport. “This will make Samui friendlier to overnight parking during peak seasons, ensuring Samui can continue to serve as a premier destination in southeast Asia while attracting more business aviation operators.”

In 2018, the airport plans to provide a dedicated terminal and customs and immigration facilities for business aircraft passengers. The new parking arrangements will start in May.

“Our goal is to continue investing in dedicated facilities and lounges at Samui airport, which are part of our master plan review,” said Chaitientong. “The natural progression is to equip our team with the know-how and customer service approach to maximize and elevate quality and create an everlasting impression when VIP customers visit the airport. We have engaged Universal to help with this expansion and training of our team and look forward to leveraging their vast global presence and experience to support generating awareness of the benefits of using Samui to operators outside of Thailand.”

Universal Weather and Aviation—parent company of Universal Aviation—has appointed Sarah Kalmeta as the group’s regional operations director for the Asia Pacific region. She will be based in Hong Kong and is responsible for all aspects of managing operations for all the company’s business units.

Kalmeta, who is fluent in English and Mandarin, was former head of flight services with Hongkong Jet. She holds a bachelor's of science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Universal Aviation has more than 40 locations across 20 countries worldwide. With the addition of the Maldives, 19 of these are now in the Asia Pacific region.