Charter Report
Charter Report
Charter Report
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Hong Kong
Bangkok Manila
Kuala Lumpur
CONTRIBUTION
Asian Sky Group would like to acknowledge the generous contributions made by numerous organisations, including
charter operators, JETNET LLC, Universal Weather & Aviation and WealthX in providing data for this report.
Should you wish to reproduce or distribute any portion of this report, in part or in full, you may do so by mentioning the
source as: “Asian Sky Group, a Hong Kong based business aviation consulting group”.
Thank you for your interest in this report. We hope you will find the information useful. If you would like to receive
further information about our other aviation services and reports, please contact us at info@asianskygroup.com.
CONTACT
Suite 3905, Far East Finance Centre,
16 Harcourt Road Admiralty, Hong Kong
www.asianskygroup.com
02 20
FLYING PRIVATE: Q&A WITH
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
ENTERTAINMENT ORGANIZATION CFO
19 CHARTER DEMAND
The single aircraft model used the most for charter in the Asia-Pacific region is the Legacy 600 & 650 (18 aircraft)
followed by the Gulfstream G550 (15), Hawker 800 (12), Gulfstream G450 (11) and the Challenger 604 and 850
(with 10).
The largest charter fleet is based in India (60), China (57) and Australia (55). Considering the number of
millionaires and billionaires as an indicator of potential charter demand, China is by far the most attractive charter
market. Not surprisingly, the charter fleet in China is dominated by large cabin and long range aircraft (74%), with
Gulfstream and Bombardier’s aircraft being 39% and 33% of the fleet respectively.
The charter fleets in the other two big charter markets in the region couldn’t be more different than China. In India,
mid-size and light category aircraft represent 50% of the charter fleet, with the preferred top three OEMs being
Cessna (25%), Hawker (22%) and Bombardier (20%). Top models are the Falcon 2000, the Hawker 850XP and the
Citation Excel.
Australia’s charter fleet is similar but with even more dominance by the mid-size and light categories representing
55% of the market. The most popular aircraft are from Cessna and Bombardier with 43% and 38% of the fleet
respectively. Top models are the Bombardier Challenger 604 and various jets in Cessna’s Citation line.
23%
LEGEND:
22+78+G
57
China
22%
4+96+G 11
Japan
4%
1+5+
1% 5% Taiwan
5
2 2%
13
7+93+G
18
Thailand
7%
2+98+G
6
Malaysia
2% 2+98+G
4
Philippines
2%
4+96+G11
Singapore
4%
6+94+G16
Indonesia
6%
21+79+G
55
Australia
21%
1+99+G
3
New Zealand
1%
23++1G222176542
Philippines 4 (2%) South Korea 3 (1%)
Taiwan 5 (2%)
Malaysia 6 (2%) Macau 2 (1%)
Japan 11 (4%)
Singapore 11 (4%)
India 60 (23%)
Hong Kong 13 (5%)
Indonesia 16 (6%)
Thailand 18 (7%)
264 China 57 (22%)
Australia 55 (21%)
New Zealand
South Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Australia
Thailand
Taiwan
Macau
Japan
China
Total
India
Bombardier 12 19 21 2 6 2 7 2 1 1 1 74
Cessna 15 24 6 1 4 1 1 52
Gulfstream 3 22 2 5 1 5 4 3 2 1 1 49
Hawker 13 5 3 7 5 1 1 35
Embraer 5 6 2 7 1 21
Dassault 11 1 1 2 1 1 17
Boeing 4 2 1 7
IAI 2 1 1 4
Airbus 1 1 1 1 4
Dornier 1 1
Total 60 57 55 18 16 13 11 11 6 5 4 3 3 2 264
25
20
15
10
0
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
5+18+3022205G
Very Light 13 (5%) Corp. Airliner 13 (5%)
570+ 570+ 550+ 180+ 160+ 130+ 110+ 110+ 60+ 50+ 40+ 30+ 30+ 2
264
Mid-Size 58 (22%) Large 78 (30%)
60 57 55
18 16 13 11 11
6 5 4 3 3 2
New Zealand
South Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Australia
Thailand
Taiwan
Macau
Japan
China
Total
India
Corp. Airliner 2 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 13
Long Range 6 16 7 1 4 6 3 2 2 1 1 49
Large 19 26 11 9 4 3 3 1 1 1 78
Mid-Size 16 11 7 9 5 3 1 4 1 1 58
Light 14 23 6 2 3 1 1 1 2 53
Very Light 3 7 2 1 13
Total 60 57 55 18 16 13 11 11 6 5 4 3 3 2 264
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Taiwan
Macau
Japan
China
India
Total
BBJ 4 2 1 7
CORP. AIRLINER
ACJ318 1 1 2
ACJ319 1 1 2
Lineage 1000 1 1
Dornier 328 Jet 1 1
G550 1 12 1 1 15
Global Express XRS 1 1 4 1 1 8
Global 6000 1 2 2 2 1 8
LONG RANGE
G650 4 1 5
Global 5000 1 1 1 1 4
Global Express 1 1 1 1 4
GV 1 1 1 3
Falcon 7X 1 1 2
Legacy 600/650 3 6 1 7 1 18
G450 7 1 1 1 1 11
Challenger 604 2 2 5 1 10
Challenger 850 1 7 1 1 10
Challenger 605 1 3 1 1 6
Falcon 2000 6 6
GIV/-SP 1 1 1 1 4
LARGE
Challenger 600/601 2 1 3
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 2 1 3
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1 1 2
CRJ100 1 1
G300 1 1
Falcon 900LX 1 1
Falcon 900EX/EASy 1 1
Falcon 900/C 1 1
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 4 2 2 2 1 1 12
Challenger 300 3 4 1 1 9
G200 1 2 4 2 9
Hawker 850XP 6 1 2 9
Hawker 900XP 1 2 4 7
Citation Sovereign 3 1 4
MID-SIZE
Citation X/+ 1 1 2
G100/G150 1 1
Hawker 750 1 1
Hawker 1000B 1 1
Learjet 60/XR 1 1
Falcon 50/EX 1 1
Challenger 350 1 1
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Hong Kong
Philippines
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Taiwan
Macau
Japan
China
India
Total
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 5 3 2 10
Citation III/VI/VII 4 1 1 6
Citation CJ2/+ 4 1 1 6
Citation Excel/XLS/+ 5 5
Citation Ultra/V 2 2 4
Westwind 2 2 1 1 4
Hawker 400/A/XP 2 1 3
Citation 500/I/SP 3 3
LIGHT
Learjet 35/A 2 1 3
Learjet 45/XR 2 2
Learjet 36/A 2 2
Citation Encore+ 1 1
Citation CJ4 1 1
Citation CJ3 1 1
Phenom 300 1 1
Learjet 31 1 1
Citation Mustang 5 1 6
VERY LIGHT
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1 1 1 3
Premier I/IA 1 1 2
Phenom 100 1 1 2
Total 60 57 55 18 16 13 11 11 6 5 4 3 3 2 264
Philippines (RP-C)
Luxembourg (LX-)
South Korea (HL)
Taiwan (B-XXXXX)
Indonesia (PK-)
Macau (B-MXX)
Malaysia (9M-)
China (B-XXXX)
Denmark (OV-)
Australia (VH-)
Thailand (HS-)
Malta (9H-)
Japan (JA)
India (VT-)
USA (N)
Total
BBJ 4 1 1 1 7
CORP. AIRLINER
ACJ318 1 1 2
ACJ319 1 1 2
Lineage 1000 1 1
Dornier 328 Jet 1 1
G550 1 1 12 1 15
Global Express XRS 4 1 1 1 1 8
Global 6000 1 1 4 2 8
LONG RANGE
G650 4 1 5
Global 5000 1 1 1 1 4
Global Express 1 1 1 1 4
GV 1 1 1 3
Falcon 7X 1 1 2
Legacy 600/650 1 3 6 7 1 18
G450 1 7 3 11
Challenger 604 6 2 2 10
Challenger 850 1 7 2 10
Falcon 2000 6 6
Challenger 605 1 3 1 1 6
GIV/-SP 2 1 1 4
LARGE
Challenger 600/601 2 1 3
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 2 1 3
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1 1 2
CRJ100 1 1
G300 1 1
Falcon 900LX 1 1
Falcon 900EX/EASy 1 1
Falcon 900/C 1 1
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 3 4 2 2 1 12
Challenger 300 3 4 1 1 9
G200 1 2 4 2 9
Hawker 850XP 6 1 2 9
Hawker 900XP 1 2 4 7
Citation Sovereign 3 1 4
MID-SIZE
Citation X/+ 1 1 2
G100/G150 1 1
Hawker 1000B 1 1
Hawker 750 1 1
Learjet 60/XR 1 1
Falcon 50/EX 1 1
Challenger 350 1 1
Philippines (RP-C)
Luxembourg (LX-)
South Korea (HL)
Taiwan (B-XXXXX)
Indonesia (PK-)
Macau (B-MXX)
Malaysia (9M-)
China (B-XXXX)
Denmark (OV-)
Australia (VH-)
Thailand (HS-)
Malta (9H-)
Japan (JA)
India (VT-)
USA (N)
Total
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 3 5 2 10
Citation III/VI/VII 4 1 1 6
Citation CJ2/+ 1 4 1 6
Citation Excel/XLS/+ 5 5
Citation Ultra/V 2 2 4
Westwind 2 2 1 1 4
Learjet 35/A 3 3
Hawker 400/A/XP 2 1 3
LIGHT
Citation 500/I/SP 3 3
Learjet 45/XR 2 2
Learjet 36/A 2 2
Citation Encore+ 1 1
Citation CJ4 1 1
Citation CJ3 1 1
Phenom 300 1 1
Learjet 31 1 1
Citation Mustang 5 1 6
VERY LIGHT
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1 1 1 3
Premier I/IA 1 1 2
Phenom 100 1 1 2
Total 61 60 56 18 16 16 7 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 264
W
ith expanding trade and developing markets, the Asia- Chinese New Year and Western holidays including Christmas, New
Pacific region has seen an increasing demand for Years and Easter are busy. Periods around the World Economic
business travel including demand for efficient business Forums, G8, G20, and regional ASEAN meetings also create a
jet charter. As a relatively new market, business jet owners in the higher demand for charter, as well as major sporting events
region are now increasingly aiming to mitigate the running costs including the Super Bowl, World Cup and Olympics. Summer
of operating their aircraft and thus are considering the benefits of months are usually relatively slow, as the need for charter shifts to
chartering. An emergence of mobile apps, media, and websites has Europe and the US.
made business jet charter easier and more accessible than ever.
As the demand and availability of jet charter increases, a number The time surrounding a natural disaster will also increase demand
of challenging factors have begun to influence the market. in the cargo charter industry, along with wide body passenger
aircraft, and helicopters. Tsunamis in Southeast Asia and the
recent earthquake in Nepal demonstrated that the first few
AIRCRAFT UTILIZATION & OPERATION days of a disaster are crucial, requiring initial search and rescue
STRUCTURE and moving experts and equipment into disaster areas. These
disasters also showed the need for a coordinated effort by Asian
A typical optimized charter utilization for a business aircraft is
governments to engage the private sector for such eventualities as
40 to 50 hours per month. Meeting these target hours can help
part of an emergency response plan (ERP).
rationalize the large investment put into such business jet. In
order to keep an aircraft flying at the targeted utilization hours,
an operator requires a supportive operation team including RESTRICTIONS
maintenance program providers. Maintenance planning and
Infrastructure status, airspace limitations, and regulations
support are an important part of operating a business jet. While
throughout Asia are often the paramount challenges when
this might be easier for larger operators, small operators often face
operating a charter throughout the region. These can also make
a significant investment for handling complex charter activities in
aircraft utilization targets difficult to attain. Landing and takeoff
addition to owner flight requirements.
slots in major Asian cities are becoming increasingly more
There is increasingly more proactive work required to mitigate regulated, requiring operators to be aware of all conditions and
issues that will affect charter trips. The refined operational support requirements far in advance.
can often require in-house regional expertise as well as global
third party support to supplement the operator’s own team when For example, foreign-registered aircraft in China are not easily
conducting global operations. allowed to operate to regional airports and are confined to those
under 2438 m (8000 ft) in altitude. In Taiwan, the same passengers
must be onboard on all segments of the trip. In Indonesia, all local
TIMING flights on a foreign-registered non-scheduled aircraft (private or
As with many industries, jet charter demand fluctuates according charter) are completely prohibited, bringing to new heights the
to the season. Historically within this region, the time around operational limitations linked to ‘cabotage’ principles.
AVIATION PROFESSIONALS
CHARTER USERS While demand for business aviation services rises, there is a
There are a number of typical business jet charter clients growing concern regarding the shortage of aviation professionals
throughout the region, with casino operators being arguably the in the region. According to the International Civil Aviation
largest. Such companies have historically acquired their own Organization (ICAO), “the Asia-Pacific region will need 216,000 new
aircraft to maximize their chances of attracting highly-roller pilots in the next 20 years, more than in any other part of the world,
clientele. The rationalization of costs in the casino segment has accounting for 40 percent of the global demand.” The shortage
arguably played a large role in the recent resurgence of block of aviation professionals also applies to the business aviation
charter demand (buying blocks of hours at a time) in and out of industry, and does not stop with pilots.
Singapore, as well as Macau. The Philippines is also beginning to
Mechanics and engineers, who tend to flock toward the train and
see a need for supplemental block charter.
automobile industry, ask for higher salaries in order to join the
business aviation industry. The difficulty of employing these types
Fortune 500 and multinational companies are also increasingly
of professionals also creates a burden for companies employing
becoming regular users of business jet charter services, being
them. The initial investment required to train certified flight crews,
typical from the entertainment or real estate industries, government
mechanics, and dispatchers is not only high, but also does not
agencies and commodity firms, among others. As the demand
guarantee that such resources will gather the necessary standards
from Fortune 500 companies in this region is strengthening, such
and experience to provide a sustainable base to the local industry.
companies commonly want to ensure operators have all the
necessary international-level qualifications. This would include
international charter certifications: IBAC’s IS-BAO stage I, II, or III, BUSINESS AVIATION INDUSTRY
Wyvern Wingman, ARGUS Gold or Platinum, or the Flight Safety
Although challenges within the charter industry will continue to
Foundation’s (FSF) BARS audit. Business jet operators will not
arise, Asia – with its large population and wealth – is in a good
have all certifications, but most will have two or three to reassure
position to quickly tackle flexibility issues to empower efficient
clients about their efficient and safe flight operations.
business travel throughout this rapid-growth region. Organizations
including ASEAN and APEC working with the International Civil
CHARTER PRODUCTS Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Business Aviation
Council (IBAC) and the Asian Business Aviation Association
As the demand for business jet charter increases throughout the
(AsBAA) continuously raise the importance of improving
Asia-Pacific region, the services continues to evolve, creating
transportation regulations in an effort to implement efficient
numerous options for users. The most popular option for
solutions.
chartering a jet is on-demand, which allows use when needed
Lineage 1000E
12000 G650
Global XRS
11000 Global Express
Global 6000
G550
10000 Global 5000
GV
9000 G450
F7X
GIV-SP
G300
ESTIMATED AVERAGE HOURLY RATE (USD/HR)
H800/XP/XPI H1000
H850XP
L60XR
4000 Cit. VII
Cit. III
Cit. Mustang
2000
100 200 300 400 500 600 800 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
• Logarithmic scales are applied to estimated hourly rates axes cabin size and aircraft max range.
• The estimated aircraft charter rate is based on the global average hourly rate with an adjustment for the Asia-Pacific Region.
Lineage 1000E
12000 G650
9000 G450
F7X
GIV-SP
G300
ESTIMATED AVERAGE HOURLY PRICE (USD/HR)
Legacy 650
8000 Legacy 600
F900EX
F900 F900LX
CL850
7000
CL605
CL604
CL350 F2000EX
F2000
6000 G280 F2000LX
CL300 G200
F50EX
Cit. X
5000
H850XP Cit. Sovereign
H1000
H800/XP/XPI H900XP
L60XR
4000
Cit. III Cit. VII
L35A/36A
Cit. CJ4
Cit. V Cit. Encore+ Phenom 300
3000 Cit. II
L31 H400/Nextant 400
Premier IA Cit. I Cit. CJ3
Cit. CJ2+
Cit. Mustang
2000
500 750 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
• Cabin size and range info source: Conklin & de Decker 2016
48+44+8G 27+73+G
Only Charter (8%) Broker (27%)
OVERALL SATISFACTION BROKER VS • During typical travel, a total 44% of respondents use their own
aircraft, while 8% of the respondents chose to charter a private
OPERATOR (Outer is better) aircraft. The remaining 48% both charter or use their own
aircraft.
Operator
Broker
• When chartering an aircraft, 73% of the respondents contact
an operator, while the remaining 27% contact a broker for
Customer Service
chartering solutions.
Operation Operation
Safety Efficiency
I
t is thought by many in the private air travel industry that the
ASIA-PACIFIC REGION HNW (30+M USD)
global increase in the population of high-net-worth individuals
(HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNW) is POPULATION
generating a corresponding new appetite for on-demand private
jet charter – that there is a direct correlation between HNW and Asia-Pacific HNW Population
UHNW growth and charter demand. HNW Population Annual Growth Rate
A
GROWING NUMBER OF TOP EXECUTIVES, corporations, Whatever we need, it will always be taken care of and tailored to
and celebrities are flying on private jets. Convenience, our liking. Great service is provided for everything from the food
mobility, and efficiency of time and productivity add to the onboard to the handling of luggage to the visas. There’s very little
list of reasons why flying private is beneficial. Asian Sky Group sat we have to think about as far as the flight process.
down with the CFO of one of our most active clients of business
jet charter to discuss the major role chartering plays in its frequent Another important aspect is also the privacy flying private offers. If
business trips across the globe. we need to handle any sort of business onboard, we can be certain
that this business will remain confidential. This is also another
reason that flying private is efficient. We can still work, if needed,
How were you introduced to private aviation and without disruptions.
business jet charter?
Over the past few years, our company came to realize the
usefulness of using a private jet. We had a number of friends
How do you justify using a private jet for business
within our industry speaking highly of the service. We now see it as
purposes?
a useful service that we can enjoy all over the world, particularly in Business aviation is a valuable tool for business. It helps us travel
China and Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Thailand) but occasionally more efficiently. Although some may believe it is too expensive,
on journeys to Japan, the US, and Europe. we feel it is great value for the money we are paying. We save on
overall convenience and efficiency. There is no time wasted and
this is important for a company that needs to get things done
What are the main reasons your organization uses a and not worry about small details. This really helps us to run our
private jet charter service? projects smoother.
Flying private allows the company to reach destinations that are
often unreachable via commercial airliners. Some of our projects
are filmed in remote locations, so we really have no choice but to
What is the next step in the development of your
find an alternative to flying commercial – which would be unable
private aviation usage?
to get us there. Timing and scheduling is easier and smoother At the moment our traveling is not enough us to justify purchasing
when flying private too. We save a lot of time getting on and off an aircraft. However, as our company continues to grow and as
the aircraft. We don’t have to wait through lines for baggage and we do more and more projects across the globe, it is safe to say
security. We get to our destination much quicker, which gives we will continue to use private jet charter services. For us, the on-
us more time to focus on projects. The booking process is also demand service works well. We can book when we want to go
faster. I can book a flight for 6 to 12 people on short notice, where we want. Card programs are something we are also willing
all on the same flight. This may not always be the case flying to consider in the future.
commercial. Overall, flying private is convenient and efficient for
the company.
Despite a slowing growth of GDP for Asia-Pacific countries, the demand for charter is still growing. This is
because of rising demand from corporations who are increasing their international activities, increased market
awareness to charter and owners realizing the true running costs of owning an aircraft leading them to charter
the aircraft out to differ costs. Regional operators should be aware of the operational requirements, particularly for
foreign-registered aircraft, performing charter flights in the region. Various levels of cabotage enforcement rules,
lack of qualified and experienced maintenance support, aircraft overnight parking restrictions, and long lead times
for permit request all become key factors in a charter operations — some of which will be identified in this report
country by country. While each destination has different rules, operators can expect the following documentation
to be required for chartering in all countries throughout the region.
• Operations specifications
• Noise certificate to show the aircraft complies with ICAO noise standards
• Insurance certificate
• Confirmation the aircraft is equipped with TCAS II meeting ICAO ACAS II standards
• Crew and passenger details; full names, document number, expiration date, date of birth, nationality
Aviation governing bodies can change the rules and requirements without prior notice at any time. This can affect
not only the local charter market, but any foreign-registered aircraft chartering a jet into the particular country.
Foreign-registered aircraft performing a charter should be aware of cabotage restrictions. This is the carriage of
passengers or cargo — by a foreign registered aircraft — between two airports within the same country. Cabotage
regulations vary from country to country, with penalties that can extend from small fines to seizure of aircraft.
39+33+10972G 7+28+4619G
Boeing 4 (7%) Dassault 1 (2%) Mid-Size 11 (19%) Corp. Airliner 4 (7%)
Hawker 5 (9%)
1410+ 5+ 3+ 3+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+
Embraer 6 (10%)
57 57
Bombardier 19 (33%) Gulfstream 22 (39%) Large 26 (46%) Long Range 16 (28%)
Beijing Airlines
China Eastern
NetJets China
Nanshan Jet
Allpoints Jet
Donghai Jet
Hanergy Jet
Zyb Lily Jet
Good Jet
Vista Jet
Astro Air
Deer Jet
Sino Jet
Star Jet
Total
G550 7 1 1 2 1 12
G450 2 3 1 1 7
Challenger 850 4 2 1 7
Legacy 600/650 3 2 1 6
BBJ 2 1 1 4
Challenger 300 2 2 4
Challenger 605 1 1 1 3
Challenger 604 2 2
G200 1 1 2
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 2 2
Hawker 900XP 1 1 2
Global Express XRS 1 1
Hawker 850XP 1 1
GV 1 1
Global 5000 1 1
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1 1
Global Express 1 1
Total 14 10 5 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 57
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
BBJ 1 1 2
G550 4 2 3 3
LONG RANGE
Global 5000 1
Global Express 1
GV 1
Challenger 604 2
Challenger 605 1 1 1
Challenger 850 1 2 1 1 2
LARGE
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1
G450 2 1 2 2
Legacy 600/650 2 1 2 1
Challenger 300 2 2
G200 1 1
MID-SIZE
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 2
Hawker 850XP 1
Hawker 900XP 1 1
190
2-5 Billion USD
76
157
147
1-2 Billion USD 159
2012 2013 2014 2015 Number of Billionaires
The Mainland China business jet fleet is the second largest in the Beijing is the dominant business jet destination in the country,
Asia Pacific region, with 306 jets as of the first quarter of 2016. however, high demand has created parking, landing, and takeoff
19% (57) of those are available for commercial charter, which is slot issues in recent years. The new Beijing Daxing International
made up of a majority of aircraft under 10 years old. The Mainland Airport is expected to be ready in 2018. Shanghai is second in
China business jet charter fleet is second behind India. The biggest demand and offers high-quality FBO facilities at its Hongqiao
operator in Mainland China — Deer Jet — is also the largest airport. Shanghai is also home to Asia’s biggest business aviation
operator in the region, with 14 jets. This chinese market typically trade show, ABACE held annually in April.
favors larger and long range aircraft, leaving manufacturers
Bombardier and Gulfstream with by far the biggest market share For foreign registered aircraft, landing permits for China are now
in the charter market segment the country. All but one jet in the being processed much faster than they were prior to 2013, when
charter fleet are registered locally. the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) required five
• Permit lead time: 3 business days From the second half of 2015, the business jet charter market
• Multiple stops: limited to 6 sectors within China is getting better and there is increased interest, consequently
flying hours are up. Charterers are flying in about equal
(includes in and out legs as part of the 6 sectors) proportion domestically and internationally.
40+33+137G 20+27+3320G
Airbus 1 (7%) Mid-Size 3 (20%) Corp. Airliner 3 (20%)
Dassault 1 (7%)
Whitewind
Global Jet
Metrojet
Vista Jet
Total
G200 2 2
BBJ 1 1 2
Global 6000 1 1 2
ACJ319 1 1
Challenger 350 1 1
Challenger 605 1 1
Challenger 850 1 1
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 1 1
G300 1 1
G450 1 1
Global 5000 1 1
GV 1 1
Total 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 15
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
BBJ 1 1
CORP.
ACJ319 1
Global 6000 1 1
RANGE
LONG
GV 1
Global 5000 1
G450 1
G300 1
LARGE
Challenger 605 1
Challenger 850 1
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 1
MID-SIZE
G200 1 1
Challenger 350 1
3,180
10-25 Billion USD 3
3,135 3,135
5-10 Billion USD 10
89
75
82 2-5 Billion USD 31
73
37+36+189G 9+55+927G
Airbus 1 (9%) Light 3 (27%) Corp. Airliner 1 (9%)
4+00+ 2+ 0+ 0+ 2+ 0+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 0+ 1+
Bombardier 2 (18%)
Gulfstream 4 (36%)
11 Cessna 4 (37%) Mid-Size 1 (9%)
11 Long Range 6 (55%)
Jet Aviation
Aero Asahi
Total
Avjet
G650 2 1 1 4
Global 6000 2 2
Citation Ultra/V 2 2
Citation CJ2/+ 1 1
ACJ318 1 1
Citation Sovereign 1 1
Total 4 2 2 1 1 1 11
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
ACJ318 1
G650 1 1 2
MID-SIZE RANGE
LONG
Global 6000 1 1
Citation Sovereign 1
Citation Ultra/V 2
LIGHT
Citation CJ2/+ 1
33 33
27
2-5 Billion USD
9
1-2 Billion USD 14
2013 2014 2015 Number of Billionaires
The local charter market offers 11 charter jets, 24% of the total
business jet fleet in Japan. 64% of these jets are corporate or long Chie Matsuoka – Marubeni
range jets that were manufactured within the last five years. Cessna
Aerospace Corporation
does particularly well in Japan, with the third largest fleet of charter
business jets outside of Australia and India.
What are the current trends of the business jet charter
The main issues facing the Japanese charter market are a high market in Japan?
costs of labor, high taxation, and a lack of business aviation-friendly
New customers (including prospective customers) are
regulations and facilities across major cities which create barriers for increasing, including both business users and leisure users.
those wanting to enter the local market. Upcoming events including
the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the 2020 Olympics provide the What are some of the main challenges the market in
country with opportunities and motivation to improve infrastructure Japan faces?
to cater to business and general aviation (GA). It is essential that
A number of restrictions exist regarding operating business
the industry finds a way to reduce costs substantially, so that the
jets in Japan. In the charter market, one of the main challenge
business jet charter market can develop further and become more therefore is expanding the number of Japanese registered
competitive. business jets for domestic operations.
There are only few JA registered business jets you can charter
Because delays for landing permits and aircraft parking approvals vary in Japan as only a few operators have their AOC for business
depending on the type of general aviation operation, foreign-registered jets. Japan Civil Aviation Board (JCAB) has set very strict
aircraft planning to operate in Japan should be aware of any trips to requirements to issue the AOC for business jet operators, which
the country well ahead of time. As congestion at major airports can should protect the market to expand for local registered charter
aircraft.
be considerable, it’s recommended that all approvals be obtained as
soon as a schedule is known. The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) One of the main reasons foreign-registered aircraft might
hesitate to come to Japan is the permit process. Japan
requires a charter contract before processing of a charter permit. The
requires a number of documents to charter into the country.
contract must indicate the charter price and be signed by both the
Limited slot/spot availability also continues to be an issue at
operator’s representative and the customer (principal passenger). the Haneda airport. JCAB has eased regulations for general
aviation but it has not answered all the demands or requests
• Permit lead times for International and Domestic sectors: For from business aircraft operators.
business 3 days (24 hours for executive passengers with an
urgent business purpose); For leisure 10 days
96+ 43+ 3+ 2+ 2+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+
25+ G 2 5 8 18 20 + 22 3+ G 5 23 27 32 + 10
Gulfstream 3 (5%) Airbus 1 (2%) Very Light 3 (5%) Corp. Airliner 2 (3%)
Cessna 15 (25%) Long Range 6 (10%)
Embraer 5 (8%)
Light 14 (23%)
Dassault 11 (18%)
60 60
Hawker 13 (22%)
India
Airmid Aviation Services
Poonawalla Aviation
Invision Air Services
Air Charter Services
Coromandel Travels
Abhijeet Projects
Privilege Airways
Air One Charters
Ligare Aviation
Turbo Aviation
Titan Aviation
Futura Travels
Golden Wings
Excel Aviation
GMR Aviation
Dove Airlines
SRC Aviation
Club One Air
DLF Limited
Span Air
Taj Air
Total
Falcon 2000 2 2 1 1 6
Hawker 850XP 3 1 1 1 6
Citation Excel/XLS/+ 2 1 1 1 5
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 4 1 5
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1 1 1 1 4
Citation CJ2/+ 1 1 1 1 4
Challenger 300 1 1 1 3
Legacy 600/650 2 1 3
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 1 1 2
Challenger 604 1 1 2
Challenger 605 1 1
Hawker 750 1 1
Global Express 1 1
CRJ100 1 1
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1 1
Falcon 7X 1 1
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1 1
Premier I/IA 1 1
ACJ319 1 1
Challenger 850 1 1
G550 1 1
Hawker 900XP 1 1
Phenom 100 1 1
Lineage 1000 1 1
Global 5000 1 1
Global 6000 1 1
GIV/-SP 1 1
Falcon 900EX/EASy 1 1
G200 1 1
Total 9 6 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 60
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
ACJ319
CORP.
Lineage 1000 1
Falcon 7X 1
G550 1
LONG RANGE
Global 5000 1
Global 6000 1
Global Express 1
1 1
Challenger 604
1
Challenger 605
Challenger 850 1
CRJ100 1
Falcon 2000 2 2 1 1
LARGE
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 2
Falcon 900EX/EASy 1
GIV/-SP 1
Legacy 600/650 1 2
Challenger 300 1 1 1
G200 1
MID-SIZE
1
Hawker 750
1 1 1 1
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI
Hawker 850XP 2 4
Hawker 900XP 1
Citation CJ2/+ 2 1 1
LIGHT
Citation Excel/XLS/+ 1 1 1 1 1
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 1 1 1 1 1
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1
VERY LIGHT
Phenom 100 1
Premier I/IA 1
The Indian charter fleet is the largest in Asia Pacific, with 60 hour notice for any changes in landing or overfly permits during
business jets (40% of India's total business jet fleet) operating business hours and an 8-10 hour notice for revisions outside of
locally. The fleet ranges in size with the majority in the large business hours. Frequent revisions in landing permits at military
and mid-size and light categories. Manufacturers Hawker and stations will not be permitted by authorities and the passenger
Dassault's aircraft do exceptionally well in this charter market, with count cannot be changed once it's approved. Foreign-registered
their largest charter fleets located within the country. The largest aircraft are also not allowed to stay more than 14 consecutive days
local charter operator is Club One Air with nine jets. There are also in India. A special permission to stay longer must be requested
a large number of small operators offering only one aircraft which by the operator and obtained from the ministry. Aircraft carrying
is the direct result of legislation that reduces import duties if an more than 15 passengers will be considered a tourist charter and
aircraft is imported for charter operations. a tourist charter clearance company has to be involved in order to
obtain the permission from the ministry. This process can take up
India has a strong potential for growth in the charter market to one month.
as the new Indian middle/upper class wealth would benefit
from dependable, easy-to-order, on-demand charter services. • Landing permit lead time: 3 business days if the flight is
originating from a non-PRC nation and 7 days if flight is
Unfortunately there are a number of obstacles standing in the
originating from a PRC nation (China, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
way, with the biggest being the difficult regulatory environment
Iran, Iraq). This list may change at times per government
which prevents any beneficial foreign investment from being made
assessment.
toward its business aviation charter market.
• Overflight/technical stop lead time: 1 business day for non-
Foreign registered operators planning to land in India should be PRC flight origination and 3 business days when embarking
aware that flight planning requirements depend on where you’re from a PRC nation.
flying to and whether your destination is a civilian or military
airfield. Lead times can be lengthy and operators should make
sure they are aware of all rules. For example, a 15-20 day notice
must be given to the authorities for any flights operating to military
stations. Authorities are also strict with revisions, requiring a 6-8
7+03+ 0+ 2+ 0+ 2+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+
39+ G 28 + 33 6+ G 11 33 + 50
Gulfstream 5 (28%) Very Light 2 (11%) Long Range 1 (6%)
18 18
Cessna 6 (33%) Hawker 7 (39%) Light 6 (33%) Mid-Size 9 (50%)
Kannithi Aviation
Thailand
H.S. Aviation
AC Aviation
VIPJets
MJETS
Total
G200 2 2 4
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 2 2
Hawker 400/A/XP 2 2
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1 1 2
Hawker 850XP 1 1 2
Citation Mustang 1 1
Citation CJ3 1 1
Citation III/VI/VII 1 1
Citation X/+ 1 1
GV 1 1
Premier I/IA 1 1
Total 7 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 18
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
GV 1
1 1 1 1
G200
MID-SIZE
Hawker 850XP 2
1 1
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI
Citation X/+ 1
Hawker 400/A/XP 1 1
1 1
LARGE
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP
Citation CJ3 1
Citation III/VI/VII 1
Premier I/IA 1
LIGHT
VERY
Citation Mustang 1
24
5-10 Billion USD 4
17
2-5 Billion USD
10 4
1-2 Billion USD
14
2013 2014 2015 Number of Billionaires
Of the 37 business jets based in Thailand, 49% (18) are available for
charter, with 50% of those being mid-size jets including the G200, Jaiyavat Navaraj – Mjets
Hawker 850XP, and Citation X+. This market does not have any jets
that were manufactured within the last five years, which may indicate
What are the current trends in the business jet charter
a penchant toward practicality and awareness of pricing.
market in Thailand?
A number of the larger charter operations within Thailand have large The business jet charter business in Thailand remains very
corporation shareholder backers. MJets is under the publically-listed flat given the belt tightening situation in the country. Actually
charter levels are expected to be approximately 5% below last
Minor Group and CP Group is behind Siam Land Flying. Despite
year's. However, the air ambulance business is growing around
government uncertainty in recent years, the private aviation market in 40% over last year.
Thailand has overall remained strong. However, since the beginning
of 2014, the charter market has seen less demand originating from What are some of the challenges that keep the market
within Thailand. A 2015 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from expanding?
ruling putting the Thai registry under close scrutiny due to safety
The big challenges remain the unfriendly rules and regulations;
concerns has affected the local commercial charter operators. No
the long leadtimes to get landing and overfly permits for
new routes are being approved or aircraft are being allowed to fly to many countries in this region; and the scarcity of experienced
certain international destinations during this period, as local charter business jet pilots.
operators are put into the same category as low cost airline carriers.
The government is not issuing any new operating certificates in the
interim, which also applies to business jet charter operators.
• Permit lead time: 3-5 days for landing permit, Overfly 2-3 days
44+31+136G 56+31+13G
Cessna 1 (6%) Gulfstream 1 (6%) Light 2 (13%) Large 9 (56%)
5+02+ 0+ 2+ 0+ 2+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+ 0+ 1+
Bombardier 2 (13%)
16 16
Hawker 5 (31%) Embraer 7 (44%) Mid-Size 5 (31%)
Airfast Indonesia
Transwisata Air
Indonesia Air
Travira Air
Premiair
Lionair
Total
Legacy 600/650 4 1 1 1 7
Hawker 900XP 2 2 4
Challenger 600/601 1 1
Citation III/VI/VII 1 1
Phenom 300 1 1
GIV/-SP 1 1
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1 1
Total 5 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 16
Local Brokers
Company Name Location
ASA PT Jakarta
*Javajet Asia, PT Jakarta
Legacy 600/650 1 1 1 2 1 1
LARGE
Challenger 600/601 1
GIV/-SP 1
LIGHT MID-SIZE
Hawker 900XP 1 1 2
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1
Phenom 300 1
Citation III/VI/VII 1
23
19
25 2-5 Billion USD
8
1-2 Billion USD
14
2013 2014 2015 Number of Billionaires
In the last few years, Indonesia has gone through political change that
has affected business aviation in the country. The local industry faces Wando Suripto – Javajet Asia
a number of issues including infrastructure, safety, and in the overall
inflexibility of operating in business aviation. Two airports in Indonesia
What are the current trends of the business jet charter
handle the majority of general aviation flights: Bandara Halim
market in Indonesia?
Perdanakusuma (WIHH) and Soekarno-Hatta International (WIII), with
Denpasar International (WADD) in Bali also handling an increasing Business is relatively slow in the country. The trend is that most
charter aircraft owners are selling their jets, though a couple
amount of traffic.
of them are actually upgrading their jets. After the Indonesian
With 53 business jets based in the country, 16 (30%) are chartered government issued a decree forbidding foreign-registered
out commercially. Premiair is the largest operator with 5 charter jets in aircraft from flying within the country, local operators have
seen their business double and even triple.
its fleet, all of which are Embraers. Indonesian charter market favors
newer aircraft, in the large to mid-size range.
What are some of the main challenges the Indonesian
Operators, with foreign-aircraft, expecting to travel to Indonesia should business jet charter market faces?
be aware of the legal decree passed by the Indonesian Government
The business climate isn’t great, although we are seeing an
in October 2015. The ruling enforces very restrictive overfly cabotage upward trend. The new government is now 1.5 years into
rules for any foreign-registered aircraft. This essentially prevents any term and starting to take shape. Money is being put into
charter, or even private business aircraft operator, from conducting infrastructure spending and not so much on consumption.
any domestic flight within Indonesia unless they are domestically A few other challenges are impacting this market: operators
charging domestic and international flights 10% VAT, the lack
(PK) registered. Operators would need to fly to another country (e.g.
of long range aircraft, a high hourly price (which is 25% higher
Singapore) before returning to their next stop in Indonesia, or charter than other countries in Asia) and an EU ban. Many Indonesian
with a locally registered aircraft. Consequently, there is an increased charter operators are banned by the EU, which does not
demand for local charter solutions with higher local charter costs. allow the aircraft to fly into EU countries. Consequently, some
However, the entire impact of this decree has yet to be fully assessed. European customers are reluctant to fly on Indonesian planes.
64+27+9G 27+27+379G
Hawker 1 (9%) Light 1 (9%)
11 11
Bombardier 7 (64%) Mid-Size 4 (37%)
Large 3 (27%)
Australia
USA 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
Malta
Hong Kong
Chiron Flight Services
Luxembourg
CareFlight Group
Zetta Aviation
Luxaviation
Vista Jet
Total
Global Express XRS 1 1
Challenger 300 1 1
Learjet 35/A 1 1
Challenger 604 1 1
Global 6000 1 1
Challenger 850 1 1
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1 1
G100/G150 1 1
Learjet 60/XR 1 1
G450 1 1
G550 1 1
Total 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 11
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
G550 1
RANGE
LONG
Global 6000 1
G450 1
LARGE
Challenger 604 1
Challenger 850 1
Learjet 60/XR 1
MID-SIZE
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1
Challenger 300 1
G100/G150 1
LIGHT
Learjet 35/A 1
Year of Manufacturing 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
1,395
5-10 Billion USD 2
1,355
1,314
37
2-5 Billion USD
9
32
27
Of the 65 business jets in Singapore, 17% (11) of those are used for has restrictive hours, with runway closures occurring between
chartering. The mid-size, large, and long-range categories make 0001-0700 local time on the first Saturday of every month and
up over 91% of this fleet, suggesting a need to fly mostly long between 0001-0200 local time every Wednesday and Saturday.
distance.
• Landing permit lead time: 7 working days
Renowned for hosting major events including the Singapore • Overflight permit lead time: 2 working days
Grand Prix - F1 and the ATP Women’s Tennis Finals, Singapore
has a number of interested clientele who enjoy hassle-free block
charter programs to accommodate their annual charter needs.
All business jets based in Singapore are foreign-registered, as the
local aviation registry caters more to commercial aviation.
43+38+542G 13+20+134212G
Embraer 2 (4%)
Gulfstream 2 (4%) Dassault 1 (2%) Very Light 7 (13%)
8+65+ 5+ 4+ 4+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+
IAI 2 (4%) Long Range 7 (13%)
Hawker 3 (5%) Large 11 (20%)
55 55
Bombardier 21 (38%) Cessna 24 (43%) Light 23 (42%)
Mid-Size 7 (13%)
Australia
Executive Airlines
Edwards Aviation
Revesco Aviation
CareFlight Group
Maxem Aviation
Skypac Aviation
Pel-Air Aviation
Erceg Aviation
Flight Options
Australian Air
SCT Logistics
Jet Centres
AustAir Jet
Solutions
ExecuJet
Australia
Services
Jet City
Avwest
Total
Challenger 604 3 1 1 5
Citation Mustang 3 1 1 5
Citation III/VI/VII 1 1 1 1 4
Global Express XRS 4 4
Citation 500/I/SP 1 1 1 3
Citation Sovereign 1 1 1 3
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 1 1 1 3
Challenger 600/601 1 1 2
Citation Ultra/V 1 1 2
Global 6000 1 1 2
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 2 2
Learjet 35/A 2 2
Learjet 36/A 2 2
Learjet 45/XR 2 2
Westwind 2 1 1 2
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1 1
Citation CJ2/+ 1 1
Citation Encore+ 1 1
Citation X/+ 1 1
Falcon 900/C 1 1
G450 1 1
GIV/-SP 1 1
Global Express 1 1
Hawker 1000B 1 1
Learjet 31 1 1
Legacy 600/650 1 1
Phenom 100 1 1
Total 8 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 55
Local Brokers
Company Name Location Company Name Location
Global 6000 1 1
Global Express 1
Challenger 604 1 2 1 1
Challenger 600/601 1 1
Legacy 600/650 1
LARGE
GIV/-SP 1
G450 1
Falcon 900/C 1
Citation Sovereign 1 1 1
MID-SIZE
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 1 1
Hawker 1000B 1
Citation X/+ 1
Citation III/VI/VII 1 1 1 1
Citation 500/I/SP 1 1 1
Learjet 35/A 1 1
Learjet 45/XR 1 1
Learjet 36/A 1 1
Westwind 2 2
LIGHT
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 2 1
Citation Encore+ 1
Citation CJ2/+ 1
Citation Ultra/V 1 1
Learjet 31 1
Citation Mustang 1 2 1 1
LIGHT
VERY
Phenom 100 1
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1
Year of Manufacturing 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
32 32 30
2-5 Billion USD 10
1-2 Billion USD
17
2013 2014 2015 Number of Billionaires
Australia is the third largest jet charter market in the A-P region,
behind India and China, with 55 business jets available for Shane Bassett – Hawker Pacific
charter. This market favors the light and very light size categories,
indicating that charter is used primarily for travel within the
What are the current trends of the business jet charter
country. Manufacturers Cessna and Bombardier remain the top
market in Australia?
charter jet OEMs in the country and both have their largest charter
fleet throughout the region in Australia. The past 12 months has seen a significant shift from the
small to mid-size cabin requests to the super mid/heavy cabin
The bulk of Australia’s charter market demand stems from tourism. charter requests. Also more requests have been received for
Chartered aircraft shuttle up and down the coastal cities and international destinations including Tahiti and regions in Japan
and Indonesia. Generally, Sydney remains the most popular
‘island-hop’. They also serve the entertainment industry outside of
port for arrivals and departures and Hawker Pacific's Sydney
business and tourism requirements. In the past, growth in the local FBO has seen an increase in international and domestic
market was driven by the commodities boom, fueled by the export movements for the heavy and ultra-heavy cabin aircraft in the
of natural resources to China. With this sector on the decline over past 12 months. There is a steady demand for international
the past two years, business activities levels and correspondingly artists from the entertainment industry who will travel to
Australia commercially and then transfer to a business jet for
business jet utilization levels have begun to drop. Consequently,
the national tours including New Zealand.
more aircraft are being made available for charter as owners try
to defray more operating costs thus increasing the overall charter
What are the main challenges the market in Australia
fleet size and impacting the industry overall. Sydney, Brisbane,
faces?
Perth, and Cairns dominate the charter demand destinations.
The ongoing challenges in the Australian region remains the
Operators planning on traveling to Australia, with a foreign- geographical distance between domestic and international
registered aircraft, have their choice of a number of full- ports. The small population of Australia and the negative local
service airport locations. Peak periods of commercial airline public perception of business travel, deter the use of private
charter for many corporate and government officials.
operations should be considered when handling a charter.
Australia’s Transportation Security Program (TSP) requires Between 2003 and 2012, Australia experienced one of the
commercial and charter flights to submit a TSP for approval to largest mining booms in its history. This provided significant
growth towards the Fly in Fly Out (FIFO) sector to these remote
Australian Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. This
geographical locations by independent charter companies.
demonstrates that the operator maintains a high level security High demand for these types of services during the boom saw
management and can take up to 60 days, although it is often done major domestic airlines begin servicing these remote locations,
in a couple of weeks. and some smaller charter companies could not compete.
•
Today, with the mining boom behind us, demand has decreased
Permit lead time up to 7 days for foreign registered aircraft.
significantly domestically and charter operators place a
Much quicker for Australian aircraft. larger reliance on international customers. Companies, like
Hawker Pacific, are diversified enough to support and attract
• Landing restrictions: Operators wishing to operate a charter
international customers where charter is a more mainstream
service to an airport other than Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, form of transport.
Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, or Gold Coast may need
approval from Customs, Immigration, Health and Quarantine
authorities.
2+98+G
6 MALAYSIA
Of the 49 business jets in Malaysia, there are only six used for Foreign-registered charter flights into Malaysia are non-scheduled
business jet charters and Berjaya Air operates the only Malaysian- flights, consequently making them Inclusive Tour Charter (ITC).
registered jet — a Bombardier Challenger 300. Given just this one This allows the aircraft to arrive and disembark passengers,
locally registered aircraft, grey chartering of locally-based foreign however an itinerary is required and authorities may ask for proof of
private business jets seems to be unofficially tolerated. Consequently, accommodation.
legitimate charter operators have difficulty competing with the ad-
hoc availability and ‘friendly’ prices from these private aircraft owners, • Permit lead time: 72 hours
thus depressing charter business opportunities in Malaysia.
2+98+G
5 TAIWAN
Taiwan has a relatively small charter market, with five jets available
for charter — making up 20% of the local business market. The Edward Lin – Win Air Business Jet
majority of these are in the large and long range size categories. Of
these operating in the local market, all are Taiwan registered.
What are the current trends in the business jet charter
market in Taiwan?
Operators should be aware of the cabotage rule between Taiwan
and China that does not allow foreign registered charter flights to The local market is growing, with an increasing interest from
all clientele including the entertainment industry, those living
operate between the two locations, meaning if a flight is scheduled
within the country, and from international clients in Hong Kong.
between China and Taiwan a third stop would be needed (likely
in Hong Kong, Macau or Jeju). Additionally, Non-Taiwanese What are some of the challenges that keep the market
registered aircraft cannot operate domestically within the country from expanding?
if there are passengers, cargo, or mail onboard. However, ferry
There are a few issues that make the market difficult for
flights are permitted between domestic points in Taiwan. Popular
operators. This includes grey chartering, which makes it difficult
business stops in Taiwan include Taipei (RCTP), Kaohsiung (RCKH), to offer competitive pricing. In turn, utilization hours can be
and Taipei Songshan (RCSS), with RCTP being the most popular challenging to maintain. Costs involved with maintaining an
destination for general aviation operations. aircraft may then be difficult when utilization hours are not met.
1+99+G
3 NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand has one of the smallest business jet fleets in the region. international air transport operations (the carry of passengers or
There are just three charter jets based in the country, all of which are goods for hire or reward) of more than:
locally registered.
• 2 take-offs or landings within New Zealand in any consecutive
Foreign-registered aircraft wanting to operate within the country 28-day period
should be aware of the following: • 8 take-offs or landings within New Zealand in any consecutive
365-day period
• Permit lead time: 3 business days
is required to hold a Foreign Air Operator Certificate (except in
• Cabotage rules: same passengers (or less) in and out
case of medical emergencies).
• Multiple stops restrictions: Under Civil Aviation Rule (CAR) Part
129: Every charter operator not based in New Zealand conducting
1+99+G4 PHILIPPINES
The Philippines has a small business jet charter market, with only Board entry and exit fee of 18,907 PHP must be filed at the time of
four jets available for commercial charter. At this time, there are applications.
one Bombardier Challenger 605, a Dassault Falcon 50 and an IAI
Westwind 2, available through Aviation Concepts. A Dornier 328 • Permit lead time: 3-5 days
Jet is also available through Platinum Skies Inc. Two Philippine-
registered Westwind II aircraft are also available for medical flights.
Most business jet charters in Korea are performed for the country’s What are the current trends of the business jet charter
top companies or chaebols. In recent years, several new charter market in Korea?
companies have begun operations in the country. However, ground
Charter demand in Korea is increasing and the industry is
handling services are expensive. moving to address this. However, there is still no specialized
charter company established in Korea as of yet – so no local
There are three business jets performing commercial charters
players.
in South Korea. The only official charter operator — Korean Air —
operates one Boeing BBJ and one Bombardier Global Express.
What are some of the main challenges the market in
Hanseo University also operates a Cessna Citation CJ1+. Korea faces?
Foreign-registered aircraft operating in South Korea should be Two of the main issues the charter industry faces in Korea are
inconsistency and unreliability, which is very harmful to short
aware of the following:
term and midterm opportunities. Charter companies that are
active in Korea haven’t maintained their marketing efforts or they
• Permit lead time: 72 hours have overstated their capabilities which has harmed perceptions
of the overall industry.
There are several advantages of having a jet charter membership. Once a program is chosen, it allows users the
freedom from choosing from a variety of providers for each trip. Services are provided with guaranteed annual
contract rates. The booking process is convenient, since there is only one number to contact and flight availability
is guaranteed, with some contractual restrictions. Some cards may even offer added benefits
including meals, upgrades, or a larger aircraft with a pre-arranged interchange rate.
Along with the rise of popularity of charter services in Asia, charter programs have become more
common. Hence in this section, we present an overview of nine memberships programs which
offer a range of benefits to their members across the Asia-Pacific region.
Asia Jet
Hong Kong (www.asiajet.com)
Established in 2008, Hong Kong-based Asia Jet is a full-service company which offers
on-demand aircraft charter, Jet Card membership, consultancy and aircraft management
services. Both the Black Card and Corporate Card offer access to the entire Asia Jet
and global network fleet, with at least three Gulfstream G200/G300 dedicated for card
members at preferential prices, as well as priority on availability, fixed hourly rates and
discounts for qualifying round trips and additional savings through affiliated partners. The
Black Card entitles members to a 5% hourly rate discount and up to 40 flight hours on a
Gulfstream G200. Corporate Card members have additional perks including a 7.5% hourly
rate discount at up to 80 flight hours on a Gulfstream G200. Corporate Card members
also have further priority on availability and empty legs. The membership fee is a one-time
payment in USD at purchase.
Founded in 1990 in the UK, Air Charter Service (ACS) is now responsible for 10,000
charter contracts a year. As a result of access to over 50,000 aircraft worldwide, global
procurement, and local market knowledge, the company is able to provide efficient and
bespoke air charter solutions. Showcasing an unparalleled level of service, ACS offers the
Lindbergh Card — a pre-paid jet card that allows you to fly anywhere in the world on almost
any aircraft you desire. Developed by the company’s jet card division, Empyrean, this card
offers clients the ability to travel anywhere in the world at any time through a one-line e-mail.
With money held in a trust account, there are no strict timeframes for usage and investment
is fully refundable at any time. With its competitive hourly costs and increased flight times,
the Lindbergh Card offers regular flyers a greater amount of freedom in the skies. All
deposits are paid up front.
Deerjet
China (www.deerjet.com/charter)
Business aviation company Deer Jet, headquartered in China, is a pioneer of charter flight services. Since its inception in 1995, Deer Jet has
expanded its jet fleet to 54 aircraft of which 14 are available for charter, making it the largest charter fleet in the Asian-Pacific region.
Deer Jet offers three types of charter cards: Feixiang Card, Youxiang Card and Aoxiang Card. The flight hours included are 10, 25 and 50
hours respectively. The hourly rate is based on a G550, but is exchangeable proportionally to use a Hawker, G450, BBJ or ACJ aircraft.
Youxiang Card and Aoxiang Card memberships offer the chance to exchange hours for use of an Artemis yacht. These members are also
entitled to enjoy a one-year Global Medical charter rescue service. All membership fees are to be paid in full at the moment of purchase. It
has no term of validity and is transferrable to others. Upfront payment is required, in RMB.
JetSetGo
India (www.jetsetgo.in)
India’s first online private jet and helicopter charter marketplace, Jet Set Go, offers no hidden costs and only net prices. Memberships are
exclusive, without nationality restrictions, requiring an invitation by the company for those who use on-demand services of at least 50 hours
during a six-month period. Once clients are accepted into this program, they are entitled to concierge services, free empty leg seats, the same
dedicated cabin crew for every flight (regardless of destination), and heavily reduced rates. No fee is required for this membership and clients
are treated to complimentary transport services when flying commercial. To qualify as a member, 100 hours of charter flights have to be
utilized within a year. Members have access to 32 aircraft and of those, 11 are exclusive.
L’Voyage
Hong Kong (www.lvoyage-aero.com)
Recognized as Asia’s fastest-growing private jet charter consultancy with up to 200% growth in 2014, L’VOYAGE offers charter services
through on-demand and a membership program. The company has access to a range of aircraft from light jets to VIP airliners and arranges
around 3000 hours of chartered flights per year.
For its membership program, the hourly rate for jets is based on the Challenger 605 and is contingent on aircraft location, operator, and
owner. Two Global 6000 and a Global Express are dedicated to charter and membership. Members can choose a different aircraft at a fixed
rate, including a Global Express, Global 6000, Challenger 300 and Gulfstream G450. All membership deposits are paid up front in USD and are
fully refundable. Membership flights can be booked easily with an SMS, email, or voice call and all members are entitled to a 24/7 concierge
service.
Powerfly
India (www.powerfly.in)
Exclusive jet card membership program Power Fly offers clients a versatile fleet of business
aircraft including jets, helicopters, and turboprops. Through three different programs —
Silver, Gold, and Platinum — members are assured access to 14 aircraft of Deccan and other
partners. Clients can choose to buy-in for 12-18 month periods, depending on their tier.
Payments are made as per the client’s usage requirements and an advance/deposit is paid (in
Rupee) with values specific to their respective membership tier.
Sino Jet
Hong Kong (www.sinojet.org)
Business jet management company, Sino Jet, offers 24/7 flight support for tailor-made itineraries. All flights include ground transportation
and accommodation arrangements, as well as fine cuisines and vintage wines provided by five-star hotels.
Sino Jet offers two types of membership: 50 hours and 100 hours. The 100 hours’ membership provides further discount to customers.
Although block hours are relatively inexpensive, additional charges include airport ground service, onboard internet, satellite phone and meals.
Sino Jet operates 28 aircrafts, including three Legacy 650s which are available for block hour charter clients. Full payment is required upon
purchase, in USD.
VistaJet
China, Hong Kong (www.vistajet.com)
Global leader in business aviation, VistaJet – founded in 2004 – operates a wholly-owned, young fleet of over 65 Bombardier Global and
Challenger business aircraft. Through a program membership, clients enjoy tailored services at an all-inclusive and fixed hourly rate.
Membership also guarantees availability of an aircraft with 24-hour notice, flying to any location (deemed safe). A Member Service team is
available round-the-clock to take care of all aspect of flights. The membership fee is a one-time payment when purchased.
JetSteals
India-based mobile app JetSteals, considered a future potential Uber of Indian skies, is the
first online marketplace for private jet and helicopter empty legs in India. The app allows
customers to book a charter trip and finish the transaction online. Apart from the payment
convenience, this app also offers individual seats, as well as the layout of the seats for users
to book. If a specific charter service is sold out, customers will be instantly notified of other
options. The app’s developer claims that it does not charge commission to either customers
or charter operators and it is available on iOS and android system.
Super First Class is the other empty legs booking app in Asia. The app is operated by CAEA
Aviation. SFC allows users to not only book individual seats and finish payment online but
also request customized charter services by submitting an online order. Although SFC cannot
provide an automatic booking service online for customized services, the service center will
call the client within an hour. This instant response saves time and simplifies the booking
steps. Charter service itineraries through the app are still limited. One example of SFC’s
scheduled international flights is the Beijing to Tokyo flight, which departs every Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday.
UK-based charter broker Air Charter Service offers a number of charter aircraft search
selections including private charter, group charter and cargo charter worldwide. This app
provides users with the ability to access estimates on the go and puts users in contact with a
charter expert from one of the global offices, at the touch of a button. However, ACS doesn’t
provide online payment service and requires customers to send the charter request to the
service center and await further contact.
VistaJet
Charter broker and operator VistaJet owns a fleet of over 60 Bombardier aircraft and
provides charter services itself. When booking a flight, the VistaJet app simply sends a
request for quote for each specific trip plan. Once confirmed, customers can amend and
review existing itineraries, read about the selected, and arrange for a helicopter or a private
car to provide ground transportation. Users can also select catering from a wide range of
online menus including top local restaurants and hotels for the clients. Payment cannot be
made online.
FlightTime Touch1
Office Base: USA Office Base: PRC
Type: Broker Type: Marketplace
Main Service Region: Worldwide Main Service Region: Mainland China
Jet/Helicopter: Jet Jet/Helicopter: Jet
Flynar Aviation X
Office Base: PRC Office Base: PRC
Type: Marketplace Type: Marketplace
Main Service Region: Mainland China Main Service Region: Mainland China
Jet/Helicopter: Jet Jet/Helicopter: Jet
Cloudwings PrivateFly
Office Base: PRC Office Base: UK
Type: Marketplace Type: Marketplace
Main Service Region: Worldwide Main Service Region: Worldwide
Jet/Helicopter: Jet & Helicopter Jet/Helicopter: Jet
Unlike the fast development of charter mobile apps in the U.S. and Europe, the mobile terminals for charter service in Asia are still emerging.
Although most charter service companies claim they operate mobile charter apps, the reality is that this field is still in the early stages and
most still require a “call for quote”. However, as the functions for booking charter services gradually grow and improve, clients can anticipate
better mobile apps in the Asia-Pacific region that allow for all facets of your trip to be booked via your mobile device.
25+25+G
Airbus
Average
Age of Fleet:
4
Macau 1 (25%) Japan 1 (25%)
Taiwan
Macau
Japan
Total
India
ACJ319 1 1 2
ACJ318 1 1 2
Total 1 1 1 1 4
57+29+14G
Boeing
Average
Age of Fleet: South Korea 1 (14%)
2008
7
Hong Kong 2 (29%) China 4 (57%)
South Korea
Hong Kong
China
Total
BBJ 4 2 1 7
Total 4 2 1 7
Bombardier
Taiwan 1 (1%) Philippines 1 (1%)
Average South Korea 1 (1%)
30+23+1710831G
Age of Fleet:
Japan 2 (3%)
2005
Malaysia 2 (3%)
Singapore 7 (10%)
72
India 12 (17%) China 17 (24%)
South Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Australia
Taiwan
Japan
China
Total
India
Challenger 604 5 2 2 1 10
Challenger 850 7 1 1 1 10
Global 6000 2 1 1 2 2 8
Global Express XRS 4 1 1 1 1 8
Challenger 300 2 3 1 1 7
Challenger 605 3 1 1 1 6
Global 5000 1 1 1 1 4
Global Express 1 1 1 1 4
Learjet 35/A 2 1 3
Challenger 600/601 2 1 3
Learjet 45/XR 2 2
Learjet 36/A 2 2
Legacy 600/650 1 1
Learjet 60/XR 1 1
Learjet 31 1 1
CRJ100 1 1
Challenger 350 1 1
Total 21 17 12 7 6 2 2 2 1 1 1 72
Cessna
46+29+1182G
New Zealand 1 (2%) South Korea 1 (2%)
Average Indonesia 1 (2%)
Age of Fleet:
Thailand 6 (11%)
52
New Zealand
South Korea
Indonesia
Australia
Thailand
Japan
Total
India
Citation S/II/Bravo/II/SP 3 5 2 10
Citation III/VI/VII 4 1 1 6
Citation Mustang 5 1 6
Citation CJ2/+ 1 4 1 6
Citation Excel/XLS/+ 5 5
Citation Sovereign 3 1 4
Citation Ultra/V 2 2 4
Citation CJ1/+/M2 1 1 1 3
Citation 500/I/SP 3 3
Citation X/+ 1 1 2
Citation CJ3 1 1
Citation CJ4 1 1
Citation Encore+ 1 1
Total 24 15 6 4 1 1 1 52
64+12+6G
Dassault
Philippines 1 (6%)
Average
Age of Fleet: China 1 (6%)
Australia 1 (6%)
Malaysia 2 (12%) 17
India 11 (64%)
Philippines
Malaysia
Australia
Macau
China
Total
India
Falcon 2000 6 6
Falcon 2000LX/LXS 2 1 3
Falcon 7X 1 1 2
Falcon 2000EX/EASy 1 1 2
Falcon 900LX 1 1
Falcon 900EX/EASy 1 1
Falcon 900/C 1 1
Falcon 50/EX 1 1
Total 11 2 1 1 1 1 17
33+29+2495G
Embraer
Taiwan 1 (5%) Indonesia 7 (33%)
Average
Age of Fleet: Australia 2 (9%)
2010
India 5 (24%)
21
China 6 (29%)
Indonesia
Australia
Taiwan
China
India
Total
Legacy 600/650 6 6 3 1 1 17
Phenom 100 1 1 2
Lineage 1000 1 1
Phenom 300 1 1
Total 7 6 5 2 1 21
45+11+108642G
Indonesia 1 (2%) New Zealand 1 (2%)
Gulfstream
Taiwan 1 (2%)
Average Malaysia 2 (4%)
Age of Fleet:
Australia 2 (4%) China 22 (45%)
2007
India 3 (6%)
Singapore 3 (6%)
Japan 4 (8%) 49
Thailand 5 (10%)
New Zealand
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Australia
Thailand
Taiwan
Japan
China
India
Total
G550 12 1 1 1 15
G450 7 1 1 1 1 11
G200 2 2 4 1 9
G650 4 1 5
GIV/-SP 1 1 1 1 4
GV 1 1 1 3
G100/G150 1 1
G300 1 1
Total 22 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 49
37+20+1493G
Hawker Taiwan 1 (3%) India 13 (37%)
35
China 5 (14%) Thailand 7 (20%)
Singapore
Indonesia
Australia
Thailand
Taiwan
China
India
Total
Hawker 800A/B/XP/XPI 4 2 2 1 2 1 12
Hawker 850XP 6 2 1 9
Hawker 900XP 1 2 4 7
Hawker 400/A/XP 2 1 3
Premier I/IA 1 1 2
Hawker 750 1 1
Hawker 1000B 1 1
Total 13 7 5 5 3 1 1 35
78.8 ft
7.3 ft
12.1 ft
7.1 ft
11.5 ft
Long Range —
Bombardier Global 6000
43.3 ft
6.2 ft
7.9 ft
43.9 ft
6.2 ft
7.3 ft
40.3 ft
6.2 ft
7.3 ft
Large —
Bombardier Challenger 605
25.7 ft
6.1 ft
8.2 ft
Mid-Size —
Gulfstream G200
24.5 ft
6.3 ft
7.2 ft
Mid-Size —
Hawker 850XP
21.3 ft
5.8 ft
6.0 ft