Airbus Corporate Jets is confident that the Chinese private jet market will continue to gravitate to larger types, with owners upgrading from traditional corporate aircraft to its airliner-based designs.
In a presentation at the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Shanghai, Airbus representatives also announced that it has landed its first Asian customer for the ACJ319neo aircraft.
"Even though the China market is slow, it is still a growing market, and the pre-owned market remains especially strong," says an Airbus spokesman.
Although Airbus has seen a definite slowing in the China market, something that has been observed by other airframers, it stresses that it still sees growth. It is especially positive about the mid-term, when it expects users of traditional private jet types to go for an aircraft with a bigger cabin.
Airbus says its baseline private jet , which is based on the A320 family of airliners, has the same operating costs and similar range as conventional private aircraft, but comes with three times the cabin space.
It states that the ACJ320neo can fly 25 passengers 6,000nm in 13 hours, and that the ACJ319neo can carry eight passengers 6,750nm in 15 hours.
"In the medium term the potential is very strong, and the ACJ will play a major role," says the spokesman. "Chinese customers are increasingly using the aircraft as a business tool, operating it to long-range destinations such as Europe, Australia, and other countries."
Another trend Airbus is seeing from regional owners is a strong desire to enhance their aircraft's connectivity via satellite links.
Airbus says there are 22 ACJs flying in China, all of which are owned by high net worth individuals.
Apart from the A320 family’s large cabin and range, which allows for missions such as Shanghai-Los Angeles, Airbus notes that there is an extensive support network for the type in the region, because over 5,000 A320 family jets are in service with airlines globally. Of these, about 1,200 are in service in China.
As for the prospects for ACJs based on the A320neo family, Airbus says it is seeing interest from existing customers, but also from individuals who may choose to upgrade from types such as Gulfstream's G550 and G650, and Bombardier's Global family of private jets.
"China is a strategic market for Airbus Corporate Jets, and will remain a strategic market for years to come," says the spokesman.
Airbus is displaying an ACJ319 outside its chalet at this year’s show.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
