China: Private Jet - New Status Symbol

In China, owning a private aircraft or a jet is becoming increasingly popular among the happy few who can afford such a thing. A milestone came two weeks ago when Zhuhai Xirui General Aviation Company, a company based in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, became the first Chinese fixed-base operator (FBO) providing general aeronautical and aviation services.

With the opening up of China’s low-altitude domestic airspace, which should happen within the next decade, and the fact that China is the world’s fastest growing market for luxury goods and largest spending power, private jets represent a huge potential market.

Zhuhai Xirui’s core business is the sales of light airplanes manufactured by Cirrus Aircraft. Even though it was set up only a year ago, the company has already sold 14 jets. “We have more than 50 enquiries per day about buying a plane” says Chen Fei, Zhuhai Xirui’s sales manager. This growing interest is the reason the FBO was set up, to provide support services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down, maintenance and rental. “We can also act as a proxy to file flight plans and make flying a lot easier for private owners”, Chen adds.

Zhuhai Xirui is already planning to open up its second operating base in Shenyang in the north-east of China this year.

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