Shanghai Gets Its First Independent Business Jet Operator

The East China Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China has accepted an application from Shanghai Deer Jet Company to commence operation in May, 2009.

Once approval has been granted, Shanghai Deer Jet will be the city's first independent business jet operator.

Flexible schedules and routes are two of the advantages for a business jet meeting the needs of high-end business people who need to get to a certain destination at a given time. In addition business jets can reach remote areas that ordinary civil airliners can not. If all goes well, according to Shanghai Deer Jet, the company will start business by the end of May 2009.

The price for leasing a business jet from Shanghai Deer Jet has not been announced yet, but it it is expected to be similar to the pricing from Deer Jet in Beijing: reportedly in the range of CNY25,000 to CNY45,000 per hour.

Currently Deer Jet Company, Air China Business Jet, Shanghai Airlines Company and Shandong Airlines Rainbow Jet Company are the only business jet operators in China. Statistics show the annual increase of business jet movements in recent years in Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport is over 15%.