Aircraft are seen in China's sole private aircraft outlet in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. (File photo)
(ECNS) -- China's sole private aircraft sales outlet sold 95 planes since it opened in Ningbo city, Zhejiang Province last year.
Owned by Shanghai-based General Dynamic Aero Tech, the store began to sell aircraft since last April, with the most expensive, an EC155 mainly used for public security and firefighting, priced at more than 120 million yuan ($18.5 million). The least expensive plane cost less than 5 million yuan, according to media reports.
On its opening day alone, two helicopters were sold, according to the report.
The aircraft are used in industry, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and construction or assist in disaster relief, meteorological observation, oceanic monitoring, scientific experiments, education, as well as cultural and sports events.
Sun Liguo, vice president of Shanghai General Dynamic Aero Tech, said demand for utility aircraft has risen in recent years, with most buyers being domestic entrepreneurs.
The market has great potential for continued growth after China gradually relaxed restrictions on civil aircraft, Sun added.
Experts from the China Aviation Institute and China General Aviation Expert Committee forecast that the aircraft market will have sales totaling 150 billion yuan by 2020.
A plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission of Zhejiang Province and Zhejiang Transportation Department vowed to develop the general aviation industry in Shanghai, as well as Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
The program calls for nine transport airports and more than 30 general-purpose equivalents to be built by 2030 and envisions that planes would become a common choice of transport along with expressways and intercity railways.
