Piaggio Aero has delivered the first P180 Avanti II business aircraft to a Chinese customer at Airshow China.

Beijing-based Free Sky Aviation received the Avanti and is expecting a second one to be delivered in December, with the aircraft to enter operations as part of an exclusive private aircraft club programme.

Both aircraft will be placed on the Chinese register, with the Avanti receiving Civil Aviation Authority of China certification in 2011.

Piaggio says it sees huge potential in the Chinese market and plans to work with its local dealer CAEA Aviation Investment Company to harvest the potential of business aviation in the country.

"We trust that our P180 Avanti II aircraft will be a business booster for our partners and for the overall growth of Piaggio Aero in China," says Piaggio's chief commercial officer Giuliano Felten.

Source: Flight International