China's rich now cruising in private jets

(photo:Guangzhou Daily)

In only a few years, about 200 private jets have appeared in China. In earlier years, the China's rich all turned their eyes to luxury cars. As they have become even richer, they naturally started to covet private jets.

Purchasing private jets is not limited to just buying the jet itself but also involves the availability of supporting facilities in many respects. Many rich Chinese excitedly bought private jets, but had to lock their jets in the hangar because of the lack of supporting facilities.

"Purchasing private jets is not a big deal because they are not even as expensive as sports cars," said Xu Weijie, a businessperson in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province and owner of 11 jets valued at about 20 million yuan. Of them, the cheapest delta-wing glider cost him only 250,000 yuan and the most expensive Hummingbird helicopter is priced below 30 million yuan.

Xu said that the members of his flight club have numbered over 10,000. He has gotten to know many well-known figures, to which he, as a businessperson, attaches high importance.

"The maintenance cost for 11 jets is about a little more than 1 million yuan, which I view as reception fees. Many of the rich play golf and drive sports cars for the purpose of social contacts, but they are already fed up with such activities," Xu said. "If you can accompany your clients on a trip in the sky, it will surely make a difference to the effect."

It is not easy to fly private jets on the Chinese mainland. Owners are required to secure the Aircraft Airworthiness Certificate from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and acquire the approval from military and civil aviation authorities in terms of flight scope and flight plan. In fact, China's low-altitude flight space has never been opened to private jets.

Guangzhou Daily contributes to this article.

By People's Daily Online