David Dixon

There has been much talk about the changing face of the first-time business aviation users, post-Covid-19, with clear evidence of mounting demand for private aircraft at all levels, whether via charter, card membership, fractional or outright aircraft ownership.

This had led to significant industry growth in the USA and Australia, where, due to the vast landscape, a four- or five-hour flight remains within the same domestic borders. The experience in Asia Pacific (APAC), and its key commercial locations of Hong Kong and Singapore, is different. Take off from Hong Kong and in five minutes you cross into China and Taiwan. Depart Singapore and 60 seconds later you can be in Malaysia or Indonesia. However, with many Covid-19 lockdown and quarantine requirements still in place throughout the region, such cross-border travel is difficult.

These ‘new’ constraints for business aviation sit on top of the region’s long-term infrastructure issues but despite this, my long-term view is that APAC remains on course to overtake Europe as the second biggest market after the US within the next five years.

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It has started cautiously, and it’s still carefully controlled. But we’re confident: the business aviation industry will start to return to normal. Even if this winter sees a resurgence of the virus, we are better prepared.  Skies will be busier, borders will start reopening, and FBOs will see a stream of travelers passing through.

Undoubtedly, Covid-19 has changed our priorities. Travelers are rightfully demanding more control of their environment than before, prioritizing personal safety, hygiene and cleanliness. Here are three reasons why the nature of business jet cabin design, usage patterns, and upkeep, make this the healthiest way to fly.

A breath of fresh air

There has always been discussion around air quality when flying and, now more than ever, the perceived risk of spreading airborne viruses in the cabin has brought the use of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to the fore. This system uses 50/50 fresh air from outside the cabin and recirculated air, which passes through filters. For those aircraft types that don’t have a 100% fresh air system, entirely replenishing the air every few minutes (as found in all Gulfstream models), HEPA filters are the main form of purification.

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The outbreak of coronavirus continues to evolve, along with the travel advice, and restrictions have been placed on all aspects of flight, including business aviation which are being updated almost daily.

This is déjà vu for me as I recall only too well the outbreak of SARS in 2002/2003 and the devastation this brought, especially to Asia. The difference today is, unlike 17 years ago, China was less integrated into the world’s economy. As such, the impacts were far more regional, and Asia was hit hard economically. Today, the world is a different place. China is the second largest economy having grown many times since 2002, supply chains are being impacted and travel is far more restricted than before. Millions more Chinese travel externally, so tourism and the hospitality industries will feel a huge impact.

In terms of aircraft manufacturing, Boeing, Airbus and engine maker Safran have all confirmed disruption due to factory and assembly line closures and travel restrictions. For the service facilities in China the work has slowed significantly, but the China owned/based fleet was in a slight decline mode before this factor emerged. It’s hard to say what the long-term impact will be as it’s simply too early.

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It has been a fascinating year for business aviation in Asia Pacific, bringing us into 2020 with the promise of strong growth potential in the region.

For several years, we have been discussing the possibility of Asia becoming Jetcraft’s second-largest market, overtaking Europe and behind only the US. While Europe’s use of light aircraft means it is likely to retain its number two position in terms of units, Asia’s fleet may soon surpass it in value, as buyers here predominantly choose large, long-range jets.

The reasons why larger aircraft are favored by Asian buyers are twofold. First, the infrastructure across the continent is restricted for business aviation users. For example, there are only around 250 airports in China that cater to private jets; while the US – which has a similar landmass – has more than 5,500. The need to fly longer distances between airports demands an aircraft with those mission capabilities.

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This article first appeared in AvBuyer. Their posting of the article can be viewed here.

By David Dixon, President of Jetcraft Asia

Asia has been my adopted home since the early 1980s, when business aviation was all but non-existent in places like China, Hong Kong and Japan. What little activity there was could be found in areas such as the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia.

At the time very few people could have predicted that, as a socialist state, China would come to adopt the ultimate capitalist business tool – the private jet. But when Deng Xiaoping opened up China to foreign investment in the 1980s, the rapid growth of the Chinese economy meant business aviation could begin to take off.

The Tiger economy effect

20 years later, Asia was on everyone’s minds. Extreme growth areas, known as Tiger economies, had sprung up across the region and OEMs were scrambling for a China strategy.

While economic growth was rapid and high, the Asian business aviation market did not progress in the same way as that in the US or Europe. The attitude amongst buyers was ‘buy now, buy new’, and the main aircraft of interest were long-range, wide-body models. As a result, the area quickly became dominated by Gulfstream V and Bombardier Global Express aircraft.

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By 2026, Asia is predicted to be tied with North America in terms of ultra-high-net-worth-individual (UHNWI) population, as shown in The Wealth Report by Knight Frank, cited in our 10 Year Market Forecast. As more individuals are buying private aircraft in Asia, an increase in the UHNWI population could cause a boost in demand for the region.

Asia’s promising position in the global business aviation industry has never been more evident than at the 2018 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE). OEMs, operators and industry leaders were abuzz with the opportunities that Asia presents, speaking of new infrastructure, a better attitude towards business aviation and a steadily maturing market.

Overtaking Europe

Jetcraft is no exception when it comes to optimism about the region. Backed by our consistently healthy sales, we have determined that Asia-Pacific is one of the world’s fastest growing markets, accounting for approximately 15% of Jetcraft’s transactions in 2017. This trend has continued into Q1 of 2018, setting a positive projection for the rest of the year.

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The Asia-Pacific market continues to show signs of business aviation growth, and we are tracking promising activity throughout the region. Jetcraft’s 10 Year Market Forecast predicts Asia-Pacific will remain one of the most active of the emerging markets (and the third-largest business aviation market behind North America and Europe), accounting for 10% of unit deliveries from 2016-2025 (789 units). As we closed 2016, the best year in our company’s 55-year history, Asia-Pacific accounted for approximately 20% of our results, on par with Europe.

One of the key drivers for Asia-Pacific’s business aviation sales activity, from our perspective, is a greater acceptance of pre-owned aircraft among buyers as well as an increase in the number of first-time sellers in the market. It remains a region where buyers are inclined to purchase new aircraft, but there is a significant shift in attitude, where buyers are acquiring pre-owned aircraft in greater numbers and with growing confidenc...

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Written by David Dixon, President, Jetcraft Asia
[email protected]

The Asia-Pacific region, though currently tempered somewhat by China’s economic challenges, should not be discounted by the business aviation industry. Where China dominated attention in years past, focus today takes into account growth more broadly, encompassing nations such as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Today, Asian business leaders and many governments are realizing the benefits that business aircraft can offer in terms of stimulating their economies and contributing to long-term regional growth. Jetcraft’s 10-year Market Outlook report projects that Asia-Pacific will account for 12% of the business aircraft deliveries total worldwide through 2024, representing 1,050 units.

Indeed, this is the time of year when much attention across our industry turns to Asia. Key tradeshows and exhibitions are underway, such as the Singapore Airshow that occurred last month, and the upcoming annual ABACE 2016 event taking place in Shanghai next month.

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Written by David Dixon, President, Jetcraft Asia

[email protected]

At a recent conference in London, I presented on the subject of business aviation trends in China titled “China - is it slowing down or overhyped.” For this article, I’m going to start where I ended that presentation, expounding on my closing point of why, “Everyone wants a China strategy but everyone needs a regional strategy”.

Watching China Grow

Fifteen years ago no one took China seriously as a market for business aircraft and almost any efforts were often met with incredulity. Fast forward to today, where China is top of the agenda when thinking strategically about Asia. There is good reason for that too, as it offers enormous potential for growth in almost every industry, including business aviation.  Today there are more than 120 privately owned aircraft either based or owned in Hong Kong, as well as approximately another 120 aircraft in mainland China. In dollar value terms, the market...

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