March 28, 2012 - Speaking to media at Shanghai's first Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE), Gulfstream President Larry Flynn addressed the strength of sales in the Asia Pacific and committed to increasing Gulfstream resources in the region. 

"Asia, and particularly China, remains our leading export market," he said. "Twenty-seven percent of our current backlog is in Asia Pacific. The fleet of Gulfstream aircraft in use in Hong Kong and China has grown from zero in 2000 to more than 80 today, with more on the way." He noted a firm order worth $810 million from Minsheng Leasing for 20 aircraft. 

Flynn also introduced a trio of new customers: Nanshan Jet, which is taking delivery of its second G450 long-range jet, with an additional G450 and an ultra-long-range G550 on order; AllPoints Jet, which signed an order at the show for a G450 and G550; and Asia Jet, which is expanding its Shanghai charter fleet with a mid-range G200.

"These companies exemplify the dynamism in the Chinese market," Flynn said. "All will use the aircraft to conduct charter operations, thereby introducing more Chinese companies to the advantages of business aviation and the comfort and capability of Gulfstream jets. "Gulfstream's philosophy is that top quality service sells business jets; we have and will continue to expand our service offerings in Asia Pacific by growing our product support infrastructure." 

Flynn pointed to the planned opening of Gulfstream Beijing, a joint service center operated by Gulfstream, Deer Jet and Grand China Aviation Technik. The joint venture will be known as Gulfstream Beijing and will open later this year. Already, Gulfstream has a parts warehouse operating nearby. Gulfstream will be the first business jet manufacturer to offer factory service in China. 

Flynn also noted Gulfstream's close collaboration with training provider FlightSafety International, which inaugurated the first full-flight simulator in Asia strictly devoted to business aviation. The G450/G550 simulator is based in Hong Kong, placing training much closer to customers from northern China and other parts of Asia. 

"We are also proud to have a Beijing office in the central business district there, headed by Regional Vice President Herman Chai," Flynn noted. The office, located in the middle of Beijing's Central Business District, will give customers centralized access to Gulfstream resources in the rapidly growing Chinese market. Flynn said Gulfstream has a 48 percent share of the large-cabin market in the Asia-Pacific region.