Jet Arrives At Beijing's Capital International Airport Following Appearance At Singapore Airshow#
The private and business jet industry may still be in its infancy in China, but that hasn't stopped some of the world's top jet makers from placing bets on its potential in coming years. Despite massive regulatory obstacles, companies like Bombardier, Boeing and Embraer (previously on Jing Daily) are taking a long view on China, as the number of dollar millionaires and billionaires there continues to increase and more companies are engaging in regular international business.
According to Nilesh Pattanayak, South Asia Managing Director for Bombardier Business Jets, Bombardier expects to sell around 300 private jets in China over the next decade, which may sound modest, but it's important to keep in mind that the company only projects sales of around 1,000 jets in that time frame for all of Asia -- including India and South Asia. The Brazilian jet maker Embraer also expects to develop a stronger foothold in China over the next 10 years or so, with their current promotional efforts focusing on the opportunity presented by more Chinese businesspeople traveling between the mainland and Hong Kong or Macau. (The latter mostly for gambling excursions.)
This week, another entrant to the burgeoning Chinese private jet market flew in to Beijing's Capital International Airport -- Hawker Beechcraft's Hawker 4000. The American-made jet can seat eight, and has a maximum range of 3,445 nautical miles -- capable of non-stop flights from Beijing to Moscow, Shanghai to Darwin, Australia, or Hong Kong to Dubai. According to Sina Aviation, the jet is the latest to obtain certification from the China Civil Aviation Authority, having received the go-ahead to enter the China market in November of last year. The "Hao Ke (豪客) 4000" -- as the jet is called in Chinese -- is certain to raise the eyebrows of China's Hong-Kong-shopping-trip-crazy "Hao Ke" (luxury shoppers).
From Sina (translation by Jing Daily team):
[At a press conference after the aircraft landed in Beijing,] Justin Firestone, Hawker Beechcraft President for the Asia-Pacific region, said: "The first Hawker 4000 delivered to mainland Chinese customers is not only an important milestone for Hawker Beechcraft, but also for China, the world's fastest-growing aviation market. The Hawker 4000 offers the range, performance and carrying capacity most suitable for a vast country like China, and most preferred by those doing business in Asia and beyond. This remarkable aircraft can fly non-stop from Shanghai to Singapore, from Beijing to Bangkok, and from Hong Kong to Tokyo."