Private companies find their niche in business jet sector

Asia's private aircraft charter business has come a long way, judging by the sharp spike in businesses and chartering in the past couple of years. After a brief hiatus during the global financial crisis, when corporates and businessmen cut costs, the private jet chartering business has picked up especially on the mainland and in Hong Kong.

Diana Chou, founder and managing director of Sino Private Aviation, was one of the first players to get into the business aviation market when she launched the company 12 years ago. Chou says she found a niche in the market and launched the jet chartering business. 'In those days, there were no aircraft manufacturers or [chartering] agents in the business active in Asia, and just a handful of jets,' Chou says. 'We sensed that there was a need for private jets, not only in Hong Kong but also in China.'

Sino Private is a representative of Canada-based Bombardier business jets on the mainland, and in Hong Kong and Macau. It also represents VistaJet, one of the leading business jet charter companies.

She also founded Aerochine Aviation, a Bell helicopter distributor and broker of second-hand aircraft. Since founding her aviation business in 1999, Chou has built her companies into leading players in the general aviation industry on the mainland.

Chou says she has seen the business jet market take off as more businessmen on the mainland buy their own aircraft as a result of the improvement in the business environment, and as aviation restrictions are lifted. 'In the China market it's all about face,' she says. 'If one tycoon buys a jet, his friends and associates will buy one too. Once you get one customer, you have got them all.'

Chou says her company is selling about six aircraft a year on the mainland and in Hong Kong, but expects this number to increase in the future.