Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
Gulfstream and Hong Kong-based Metrojet have agreed to establish a Gulfstream IV charter service for Asia.
The manufacturer will lease a GIV to Metrojet, enabling service start in the first quarter 2001. The aircraft will be based in Hong Kong and maintained with Gulfstream support. The two companies are already working to obtain Hong Kong certification for the aircraft.
Gulfstream has agreed to use the GIV for a certain number of hours a year. Meanwhile Metrojet, which operates the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, will provide line servicing for Gulfstreams and stock parts for the GIV, GIV-SP and GV.
Two previous manufacturer-backed corporate charter initiatives in Asia have failed: a Bombardier one with Swiss-based Global Aviation to operate Challenger charters in China, and a similar deal involving Dassault and China Xinhua Airlines in Falcon 50 charter operations. China's lack of infrastructure for corporate charters is blamed for the failure of both these ventures, with access to airports and military-controlled airspace cited as the major problems.
Gulfstream says its agreement with Metrojet is not aimed specifically at China. Instead the companies perceive a growing market for charters across Asia, particularly among Western companies seeking "local lift" within the region.
In July, DeerJet linked with China Southern Airlines and Australian e-commerce investment company Et-china.com to launch the first online charter programme in the region. DeerJet, a Hainan Airlines subsidiary, based at Hainan's Beijing Capital Airport, is believed to be the only company offering commercial business jet charter services on the Chinese mainland. It operates a Bombardier Learjet 60, a Raytheon Beechjet 400A and Hawker 800XP, as well as a Bell 206 helicopter.
Source: Flight International
