Page 16 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2013 Online Magazine

FEATURE CHINA BUSINESS JETS
The business jet market leader in
China is undoubtedly Gulfstream,
with no less than 122 aircraft at
the end of 2012
FIGuRES IN THE SKY
43 to 60
In 2012, the number of business jets
in the PRC grew at a growth rate of 40% operators manage
28 vs 7
Gulfstream Others
G550
The undisputed leader is Gulfstream,
with the G550 and G450. The G550
completely dominates its global
competitors in the Chinese arena
16 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS MARCH / APRIL 2013
Military transport, Flight Inspection, Air
Ambulance, Flight Training and Aerial
Surveillance. Nonetheless, Airbus also
describes the business jet potential in
China as being “so huge”, according to
François Chazelle, VP, Airbus Corporate
Sales. He noted that Airbus sold 10
ACJ319 business jets last year, half of
them to clients in the Greater China area.
“For Airbus, China is the market with
the fastest growth, and that can be up to
25%,” he said in an interview with CCTV.
“This market is just starting.”
Chazelle did note that despite all the
business interest, much relied on the
role of government in terms of opening
up airspace, and in granting certification
to operators and aircraft alike. “There is
still a long way to go,” he noted. “Airbus
future for the broad corporate aircraft has certification but that is [partly] thanks
market was looking good. “We are very to our existing Airbus China company
optimistic about the prospect of China’s infrastructure,” he said.
business jet market. Compared to Europe Likewise, Embraer is making the most
and the US, this industry lags behind the of its Sino connections and its agreement
economic level of China nowadays,” he with Aviation Industry Corporation of
said. The company, which opened hangar China (AVIC) for local assembly of Legacy
doors for business in 2011, now has three 600/650 jets in China at Harbin Embraer
jets. “We expect strong growth in our Aircraft Industry Co., and has chalked
business and aim to have more than 30 up many executive jet sales. In the PRC
jets on our books within five years,” noted market alone, the company booked 28
Liang Fuhua, company VP. firm orders and five options for its jets.
One aspect of the business jet market
in China that differentiates it from the Making the moves
rest of the world is that almost one- Many businesses eyeing the China
fifth (18%) of the fleet in the PRC (35 market agree that the way to go is to link
aircraft) operates for Special Mission hands with local operators, and to provide
applications, including Government/ the support facilities that will take some
PRC OPERATORS FLEET SIzE
The biggest operator in Year End 2012 Donghai Jet 7
Hong Kong is Metrojet,
Aviation HK and Hong
followed by TAG, Jet HNA Group 57 Lily Jet 8
Kong Jet. These four
Hanhwa Airlines 4
81% Nanshan 6
CITIC GA 4
China Eastern 11
BAA Ltd 27 Beijing Airlines 11
of the HK fleet, and each
company on average
operates 10 different
business jet types
WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM