From an owner’s or manufacturer’s perspective, now is as good a time as any to sign a lease or book an order, according to the view of Martin, who expects supply of commercial aircraft neither to ease nor tighten significantly until rising production rates finally put enough into service to exceed the strong demand of the past few years. For the moment, conditions remain outstanding for owners.

China is pushing ahead with the reform of its aircraft industry, with listed company Xi'an Aircraft International taking over more assets of its state-owned parent. The move is also a step toward greater transparency in the industry, whose activities and capabilities are difficult to unravel from its many layers of holding companies.

Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (Taeco) is moving early to adapt to the coming world of composite aircraft less reliant on big, periodic overhauls. The Chinese airframe specialist company is widening its product range to aircraft systems to attract operators of new aircraft whose maintenance regime will be less well-suited to its Xiamen location, a prosperous, historic port 500 km. northeast of Hong Kong. The Boeing 777 has been an early example of the change, but the big industry shift will come with the 787 and Airbus A350.