Industry insiders voice optimism about new heights for charter flights and private jets despite declining business, Liu Zhihua reports
The three-day 2015 Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in Shanghai was "the strongest edition of the show in its 10-year history", its organizer, the National Business Aviation Association, said after its April 16 conclusion.
The continent's largest aviation-industry event this year featured 183 exhibitors－a fivefold increase over its first show.
It exhibited 38 aircraft on static display. That is about the same number as last year's but three times that of its debut a decade ago. It showed a range of products, from pistons to international jets and even helicopters.
Attendees hailed from more than 40 countries. Over 40 percent of exhibitors were Asia-based, the highest proportion to date.
"This was a big and exciting week ... it is clear that a high-water mark has been reached, not only for ABACE, but for business aviation in China and across Asia," NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said in a news release.
But business aviation dealer Wang Lin (not her real name) said the exhibition showed sellers are more eager than buyers in China.
"There were more exhibitors this year than last year, and all the industry leaders came," Wang said.
"Perhaps it was because the weather was rainy and cold, but it seemed there were fewer buyers than last year. The atmosphere wasn't as energized."
She said salespeople wax nostalgically about bygone golden days.
Chinese companies' purchases of business jets have continued to decline to 35 last year since they peaked at 55 in 2011, The Financial Times quoted aviation-data provider Jetnet figures as showing.
Charters have halved since the 18th Party congress, after which the industry lost all business from government officials and State-owned enterprises, the report quoted NetJets China Business Aviation vice-chair Eric Wong as saying.
This sentiment is echoed by China Business Aviation Group CEO Liao Xuefeng, who is celebrated as the country's "godfather of the private jet".
"The anti-corruption campaign only cuts into a small amount of potential purchases," said Liao, who has worked in the industry for decades.
"Infrastructure is the biggest obstacle."
China has fewer than 300 airports while the United States has about 3,000, he pointed out.
"People who take seriously the idea that the anti-corruption campaign exerts a significant negative influence on the industry show they don't understand the business aviation and private jet sectors," he said.
Business aviation remains available only to the social pyramid's tip.
Hainan Airlines made headlines when it introduced the first business jet for chartered flights 20 years ago.
