Manufacturer increases footprint in market that is starting to ‘pay dividends’
Gulfstream chalked up 16 sales to Asian-Pacific operators last year and is hiring more staff in the region to support the fast growing fleet.
Gulfstream says the in-service fleet in the Asia-Pacific region has doubled since 2000 from 22 to 44 aircraft and will grow to at least 56 because 12 of the aircraft sold last year have not yet been delivered. “We’ve spent a decade cultivating business alliances in Asia and, based on recent sales activity in the region, it is obviously starting to pay dividends,” says Gulfstream president Bryan Moss.
Sales in the region last year included 12 new aircraft – eight G550s, one G450, one G350 and two G200s – and four-pre-owned aircraft – two GIV-SPs, one GV and one G200. Hong Kong-based start-up Business Aviation Asia (BAA) has been hired to manage one of the G200s and the G450 (Flight International, 6-12 December 2005). BAA says it will launch from a base in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen after it finalises agreements with undisclosed Chinese and US partners.
BAA took delivery in December of its first G200, which is currently being managed by Hong Kong-based Metrojet. The second G200 will be delivered in August and be managed by BAA on behalf of Chinese company Brightclear Holdings. The G450, which BAA will manage on behalf of Hong Kong-based C-Jet, will be delivered in 2007.
Source: Flight International
