Chinese start-up Business Aviation Asia (BAA) plans to take delivery this month of the first of at least three Gulfstreams and launch a charter service in January.
Hong Kong-based BAA says it has acquired an almost-new G200, which will be operated by a joint-venture partner in mainland China.
General manager Ricky Leung says BAA will also be supported by a joint-venture partner in the USA. The operator plans to disclose the identity of its joint-venture partners at year-end after finalising partnership agreements.
BAA investor New World Cyberbase last month disclosed the acquisition of a G200 from Sky Jet for $18.5 million. In September, Gulfstream delivered the G200 to Sky Jet, which will hand the aircraft over to BAA later this month.
New World Cyberbase and Everbest Business subsidiary C Jet last month also entered into a $31.5 million purchase agreement with Gulfstream for a new G450, to be delivered in the third quarter of 2007.
Leung says C Jet, which will own half of the G450, will use BAA to manage the aircraft.
Leung, formerly director of business development for Bombardier FlexJet Asia-Pacific, says BAA also plans, starting next year, to lease a second G200 from Gulfstream to be used for charters.
He adds that BAA plans to offer management and charter services throughout mainland China and Hong Kong.
To register and operate its aircraft domestically in mainland China, BAA must partner an existing operator because China prohibits private companies from operating their own aircraft.
BAA is reportedly also talking with NetJets, which has been looking to expand its Executive Jet Management on-demand charter subsidiary into Asia.
But Leung and NetJets decline to comment on a potential tie-up. Gulfstream’s Hong Kong office also declines to disclose any information on its involvement with BAA.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
