Business Aviation

Refurbishing the interiors of business jets has become big business for completions and MRO specialist Flying Colours, which three years ago opened an Asia base in Bombardier Business Aircraft’s Service Center at Seletar Airport, Singapore.

Lufthansa Technik is the market leader in Greater China with around 30 VIP Airbus ACJ and Boeing BBJs delivered into the region since the mid 1980s.

The newest business aviation center to open in China is at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, where the first phase of an RMB 400 million ($63 million) complex containing a fixed base operator, hangarage and offices began operation in December.

HondaJet opened its first sales, service and customer support center in China in January, choosing the new business jet terminal at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou, as its base.

ANA, Japan’s largest airline, plans to use HondaJets in Europe and the U.S. to feed its major transit hubs in those regions.

For the first time, Chinese buyers imported more used business jets than new ones last year.

Hong Kong-based private jet operator Hongkong Jet is planning to expand its maintenance services to operators in mainland China.

Textron Aviation’s two joint ventures in Shijiazhuang and Zhuhai will both be busier this year following orders from Greater China for three Citation XLS+ aircraft for the China Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Inspection Center, and a Cessna Grand Caravan EX in VIP configuration for Xihua General Aviation.

Gama Aviation Hutchison (Hong Kong) recently announced it will be the exclusive General Sales Agent in Asia for business jet maintenance services offered by China Aircraft Services in Hong Kong.

Bombardier’s new Premier cabin, which is now standard in the Global 6000 (formerly Global Express) and its short-fuselage Global G5000 derivative, is making its China debut here in the company’s G6000 demonstrator.

Bombardier’s full-size mock-up of its Global 7000 ultra long-range business jet is making its first appearance in China here at ABACE as part of an extensive world tour that included Dubai and Singapore.

Gulfstream Aerospace expects to win type certificates for two new business jet types – the G500 and G600 – and putting both into service in 2018. It’s never done two at a time before.

Shanghai Hawker Pacific has completed construction of a 4,500-sq-meter second hangar to support business aviation at Hongqiao International Airport—and its first use is to house this year’s ABACE show.

Swiss-based Jet Aviation will acquire Australia’s Hawker Pacific in a $250 million deal that will combine their business aircraft services in China, Southest Asia, Australia and the Middle East, the two companies announced on April 11.

There are too many aircraft management companies in the Greater China market, which has led to intense competition, but Sino Jet president and founder Jenny Lau predicts the market will consolidate. Lau is also chairperson of the Asian Business Aviation Association.

A teaming of Lufthansa Technik and Ameco on VIP business jets is expected to be signed here today.

The world’s two largest manufacturers of luxury jets are exactly even in their race to win over the wealthy elite in Greater China.

Bombardier sees a range increment that it has just added to its forthcoming Global 7000 business jet as particularly applicable to the Chinese market.

Gulfstream is unlikely to lose many sales because of proposed Chinese import tariffs, even if the taxes are indeed implemented, a consultancy says.

JetMembership.com has launched what it says is the first “zero commission private jet charter membership model in the United States."

Gulfstream Aerospace all-new G500 has demonstrated both its maturity and reliability by establishing eight new city-pair speed records across continents.

Bombardier has revealed that its marquee Global 7000 business jet, having completed multiple long-range flights around the world, now offers an outstanding range of 7,700 nautical miles, connecting more city pairs than any other business aircraft.

U.S. Air Force looks to detect orbital threats, Airbus launches inspection drone, Bye flies electric light aircraft, and kite-like drone wins accelerator prize.

Air Partner’s chief financial officer, Neil Morris, has resigned immediately, the company announced March 13.

Bye Aerospace’s two-seat Sun Flyer 2 electric aircraft made its first flight April 9.