Affected by the SARS plague, the number of air passengers
declined sharply in 2003, but those traveling in business jet
carters increased rapidly. Recently, a business jet charter company
was established by Air China after yearlong preparation. Moreover,
China Eastern
Airline and China Southern
Airline are also planning to import jet charter planes and
start their businesses in this area.
It is reported that the business charter company is a
sub-company of Air China. For making up the serious deficits caused
by the outbreak of SARS, Air China leased Gulfstream IV from the
United States to start this new business. The charter company is
wholly owned by Air China.
"At present, the chartering price of this kind of plane is
US$5,500 per hour," said Liu Jiwen, general manager of the charter
company. "The price might vary based on different cabin services
required by customers."
An experienced pilot who has flied more than 1,000 hours on
Boeing 747 is now flying the jet charter. So far, Air China's
charter company has received orders of more than 200 hours'
flights, according to Liu.
Up to now, China's skies have not been totally opened, meaning
foreign airliners cannot use airspace throughout the country
without permission. Even Air Force One had to take a short furlough
at the Beijing Capital Airport during the former US President
Clinton's visit to China. It was Air China that took the
responsibility for the rest of the US president's in-country
itinerary, flying from one Chinese city to another.
Jet plane charter service is still young in China, though. It
was previously prepared for foreign businessmen only. In recent
years, however, more and more domestic companies began to fly
charter flights as they realized the importance of time and
efficiency in the competitions on international market.
Three other companies, Deer Jet Co. Ltd
under Hainan Airlines, Rainbow Jet Co. Ltd
under Shandong Airlines and Shanghai Airlines Business Aviation
Center, are currently in the chartering business, their jet planes
in operation totaling around 20.
Resources from Shanghai Airlines Business Aviation Center said
that the orders they received in 2003 doubled that of the previous
year
It is reported that of the world's 25,000 commercial planes,
only 9,000 are used in routine flights operated by airline
companies. It shows that charter flight business has a great
potential in China. In the coming years, it is likely to generate
about 60 billion yuan (US$7.2 billion) a year.
(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong, January 20, 2004)