Business aviation operator Sino Jet and the Jiangxi Airport VIP Service Company are to open the first FBO at Nanchang Changbei International Airport.
The official launch of the project took place on September 24. Under Sino Jet’s partnership with Jiangxi Airport VIP Service Company, the new FBO will be developed in an independent terminal building with exclusive jet parking facilities.
Sino Jet will provide ground handling services, an advanced flight operating system, and a highly personalised customer service platform. “With the appropriate investment, Nanchang can become a regional hub for business aviation in south-west China. With Sino Jet’s global resources, and highly experienced, international team, we can offer flexible business jet management solutions to the region’s growing community of businesses and high-net-worth individuals,” Sino Jet said.
The new FBO will be fully equipped with 24/7 ground handling services, FBO facilities, and equipment, information systems, aircraft services, passenger and crew lounge, baggage services, safety management with a standard operating procedure (SOP). FBO to be developed with international standards throughout. Sino Jet to deliver fully integrated business jet management and ground handling services.
The investment forms part of Sino Jet’s expansion into mainland China ahead of an expected 20% year-on-year increase in business jet use in Jiangxi Province over the next three years. Business jet movements in China exceeded 27,000 in 2019, with Nanchang Airport accounting for less than 1% of the total flights.
“Despite the strong demand for business aviation in Nanchang, growth is slowed by a lack of facilities when compared with other regional airports. Sino Jet’s investment stems from our confidence in the growth potential of Jiangxi Province as part of China’s growing business aviation ecosystem,” Sino Jet said.
Demand for business aviation at Nanchang Airport has grown in parallel with Jiangxi Province’s economic expansion and an increase in international trade. For example, Jiangxi Airport VIP Service Company reported that 20% of business aviation flights over the past three years at Nanchang Airport were taken by local passengers and first-time users of business aviation. Data from Sino Jet’s Flight Operations Centre mirrored this trend, reporting a surge in movements from 66 in 2019 to a (projected) 100+ in 2020.
Sino Jet said, “We believe that there is a great opportunity in the optimisation of China’s 2nd tier city aviation infrastructure. According to Asian Sky Infrastructure Report 2019, just 12 of China’s 250 airports have FBO facilities, indicating an extensive opportunity for improvement and development as the region works towards economic recovery.
“Demand from Jiangxi has grown significantly and has huge future potential because there is a growing understanding of the benefits of business aviation. In addition, the government supports general aviation development, and recognises it is an enabler for economic development.”
Despite global economic challenges, according to the “Review of China’s Aviation Industry Development and Market Outlook Forecast Report (2020-2026)”, China’s business aviation sector is the most likely global market to achieve growth in the next six years and is expected to expand to become a top-three global business jet market by 2026.
