Affected by the SARS plague, the number of air passengers declined sharply in 2003, but those traveling in business jet carters increased rapidly. Recently, a business jet charter company was established by Air China after yearlong preparation. Moreover, China Eastern Airline and China Southern Airline are also planning to import jet charter planes and start their businesses in this area.

It is reported that the business charter company is a sub-company of Air China. For making up the serious deficits caused by the outbreak of SARS, Air China leased Gulfstream IV from the United States to start this new business. The charter company is wholly owned by Air China.

"At present, the chartering price of this kind of plane is US$5,500 per hour," said Liu Jiwen, general manager of the charter company. "The price might vary based on different cabin services required by customers."

An experienced pilot who has flied more than 1,000 hours on Boeing 747 is now flying the jet charter. So far, Air China's charter company has received orders of more than 200 hours' flights, according to Liu.

Up to now, China's skies have not been totally opened, meaning foreign airliners cannot use airspace throughout the country without permission. Even Air Force One had to take a short furlough at the Beijing Capital Airport during the former US President Clinton's visit to China. It was Air China that took the responsibility for the rest of the US president's in-country itinerary, flying from one Chinese city to another.

Jet plane charter service is still young in China, though. It was previously prepared for foreign businessmen only. In recent years, however, more and more domestic companies began to fly charter flights as they realized the importance of time and efficiency in the competitions on international market.

Three other companies, Deer Jet Co. Ltd under Hainan Airlines, Rainbow Jet Co. Ltd under Shandong Airlines and Shanghai Airlines Business Aviation Center, are currently in the chartering business, their jet planes in operation totaling around 20.

Resources from Shanghai Airlines Business Aviation Center said that the orders they received in 2003 doubled that of the previous year

It is reported that of the world's 25,000 commercial planes, only 9,000 are used in routine flights operated by airline companies. It shows that charter flight business has a great potential in China. In the coming years, it is likely to generate about 60 billion yuan (US$7.2 billion) a year.

(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong, January 20, 2004)