Supersonic aircraft company Aerion and Avion Pacific, a general aviation services provider in Asia, have entered into a strategic collaboration that aligns the two companies to expand Aerion's Asia Pacific presence and deliver supersonic flight to customers in the region.

The new partnership amplifies Aerion's global reach and opens a gateway to Asia through Avion Pacific's eminent position as market leader in private aviation services across Asia. Avion has placed a multi-aircraft order for the AS2 supersonic business jet, which commences production in 2023. This order represents the first AS2 customers in China and extends Aerion's global order backlog for the AS2 to a value of more than $6.5 billion.

“This partnership signals another major milestone as we look to establish ourselves as the definitive global name in supersonic travel,” says Aerion chairman, president and CEO Tom Vice. “We are delighted to welcome Avion Pacific to our ever-expanding global team and look forward to our future collaboration as we bring a new era in sustainable supersonic travel, encapsulated in a unique luxury user experience to customers around the world.”

As a preferred partner, Avion Pacific will collaborate with Aerion to offer expert Asia Pacific market intelligence and also support ongoing sales and marketing efforts as Aerion continues to build a presence in the region.

Since its inception in 1993, Avion has been at the forefront of business and general aviation growth in China and the Asia Pacific. Headquartered in Shenzhen, but with offices in other major Asian cities, its services include fixed and rotary aircraft sales and distribution, special project consulting and support, aircraft flight services, spare parts distribution, aircraft leasing and financing and advanced rotary crew training and support.

“We are excited and honoured to be partners with Aerion and to be at the forefront of introducing supersonic travel to the Asia Pacific region,” notes Avion Pacific chairman Wu Zhendong. “The AS2 offers Asian clients significant travel time savings, with a leap forward in luxury and cabin experience, in the first carbon neutral aircraft. The AS2 is an aircraft that will shape the future of private aviation in Asia and globally, and we at Avion Pacific wanted to be part of that.”