Page 37 - AAA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012 Online Magazine

BUSINESS JETS

First Lineage 1000 jet
takes flight in China

A Lineage 1000 ultra-large executive jet
has recently been delivered to China’s
Xinjiang Guanghui Industry Investment
Group, the first of this line of aircraft to
go to a mainland China customer. “We
welcome Xinjiang Guanghui Group to join
Embraer’s increasing customer base in
China,” said Guan Dongyuan, President
of Embraer China. “We believe that the HKBAC’s third hangar boosts
Lineage 1000, the flagship of Embraer
executive jets portfolio, will be the ideal hangar capacity by 55%
business partner for our new customer The opening of a third hangar at the more jets and offer maintenance inside.
by increasing the productivity of their Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre According to the press release, HKBAC
daily operations, while offering them (HKBAC) in May this year was said to Chairman Tony Miller said that the third
the ultimate comfort in travelling.” have boosted the city’s business aviation hangar was the latest investment by the
hangar capacity by 55%. According to company to meet the rapidly growing
Embraer Sun Hung Kai Properties, which owns demand for business aviation in Hong
sees 35% of HKBAC, the 4,000-square-metre Kong, and reinforce city’s position as the
business aviation hub of Asia.
hangar will allow HKBAC to house six
potential
in India
Embraer SA said it
expects the Indian
executive jet
market to account
for the bulk of deliveries in South
Asia over the next decade. “Embraer
forecasts deliveries of about US$205
billion, corresponding to approximately
8,660 units, worth of executive jets to
be delivered globally in the next 10
years. This includes executive aircraft Air New Zealand’s Beech 1900D
produced by all manufacturers,” Jose
Eduardo Costas, VP of Marketing and planes grounded
Sales for Embraer Executive Jets, Asia Fourteen of Air New Zealand’s Beech remaining planes will return to service.
Pacific said in a Press Trust of India 1900D turboprops have been grounded When the fleet was grounded, Eagle
interview. He added that of that amount, due to hairline cracks discovered in Airways GM Carrie Hurihanganui said,
Embraer estimates South Asia will the tail sections of the planes. Only “We apologise to customers for the
receive around US$10 billion to US$12 four of the aircraft have been cleared inevitable inconvenience caused by
billion, roughly 390 to 485 units, of for flight at the time of writing, and undertaking a full check of our fleet.
executive aircraft deliveries, with India have resumed service with Air New However, the safety of our customers,
expected to make up the bulk of forecast Zealand’s subsidiary, Eagle Airways. our staff and our aircraft is paramount
deliveries for that region. At present it is unclear as to when the and non-negotiable for the airline.”

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