As we have written in the past, the European market for aviation management is thriving and creating great opportunities for our industry. As recently as 2016 this was not the case in Asia – China, specifically. The market was flat or declining over political uncertainty and industry infrastructure weaknesses.
Fast forward only a year or two and we can see things changing for the better and creating new opportunities for global aircraft management and charter companies to gain a foothold for growth. As reported by Dan Ren in the South China Morning Post last year, the Hurun Business Jet Owners 2017 report stated that there “is enough demand for 1900 business jets to be operational in the country”. That’s dramatic growth after a lackluster period and will have impact on all private aviation service sectors for those who want to weigh in.
While manufacturers sweeten the market with new aircraft for purchase, we are keeping a strong focus on how the aviation management supply chain will be affected. All aspects of aircraft management will see opportunities as well as pilot and crew recruitment – two of our core business anchors. For others entering the market we think we can all see that it will require a real focus on business development to make contacts, create relationships and leverage opportunities when they arise. Understanding regional infrastructure improvements like new airport construction will also help identify growth markets within the geography.
Whether purchase, lease or charter it’s clear that Asia will represent more growth in addition to Europe and we’re excited about it! There’s so much to gain if you’ve got a solid team and the management skill behind it.