China’s corporate jet fleet is set to more than double following orders for three Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJ) and one Gulfstream G200.
Airbus has unveiled an order for three A319-based ACJs from a single Chinese customer and Gulfstream has announced the sale of a G200 to Taiwanese company Want Want Holdings. The G200 will be delivered in the middle of next year and Airbus will hand over the first two ACJs in late 2006 to Associated Air Centre of Dallas for cabin installations.
Industry sources say Hainan Airlines subsidiary Deer Jet has been contracted to operate the G200, which will be based in Shanghai and used to transport executives of Want Want’s mainland Chinese subsidiary. The undisclosed ACJ customer has not yet selected an operator.
Chinese regulations now prohibit companies from operating their own aircraft, and currently there are only three corporate jets operating in mainland China. Airbus declines to reveal the customer for the three CFM International CFM56-powered ACJs.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
