Shanghai to continue as jet fair host

Shanghai has been extended as the host of the annual Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition until 2021.

The extension comes on China's promising market outlook, sources said.

Another five-year memorandum of understanding was signed between the Shanghai Airport Authority and the US-based National Business Aviation Association.

The 2014 exhibition, the largest business aviation event in Asia, will start on Tuesday in Shanghai.

It has attracted 182 exhibitors to showcase their products, and features 38 aircraft on side-by-side display.

Michael Han, regional vice-president of sales for Bombardier China, said China is expected to have the third-largest Bombardier fleet in the world, after North America and Europe, in the next 20 years.

Bomardier, a Canada-based aircraft and railroad manufacturer, has four joint ventures and seven foreign-owned enterprises under its Chinese division.

There are currently more than 105 Bombardier business jets registered in China, and the fleet has been growing at a rapid pace, Han said.

Over the next 20 years, Bombardier forecasts more than 2,420 business jet deliveries for the overall business aviation industry in the country.

The demand, driven by economic growth, globalization and the increase in the number of billionaires, is expected to continue growing.

Honeywell International Inc's recent helicopter sales outlook report said global deliveries for civilian use are expected to increase by between 4,800 and 5,500 units through 2018.

Demand in Asia and Oceania is expected to account for 19 percent of demand over the next five years. Demand in high-growth regions remains fluid, with strong results expected for China in the 2014 survey.

Other companies are also working to develop business opportunities in China's general aviation sector.

On a single day, Monday, China's largest business jet operator, Deer Jet, signed three strategic cooperation agreements with Medical Excellence International, Air BP and Jetex.