Shenzhen's well-heeled business people can now book flights on Shenzhen's first luxury air taxi which will make its maiden flight by the end of this month, its operator Asia United Business Aviation has announced.

The air taxi, a 10-seat GulfStream 200, worth US$24 million, landed at Shenzhen International Airport on Aug. 18, according to Du Yanpeng, marketing director of the firm.

Du did not reveal who has booked the maiden flight, but said his company would charge US$5,300 per hour for the use of the jet.

"To book the plane you need to contact us at least a couple of days before you plan to travel though some smaller airports need more notice," said Du.

The jet can fly six and a half hours before it has to stop for refueling, with its pilot allowed to fly a maximum of 10 hours at one time, putting many world cities within reach.

The plane belongs to a Hong Kong businessman, who has allowed the company to offer the jet to other customers, said Du.

Asia United Business Aviation is a joint venture formed by Shenzhen Airlines, Hong Kong-based Business Aviation Asia Limited and Beijing-based National Trust & Investments Ltd. in April. Shenzhen Airlines is the largest shareholder.

Asia United Business Aviation will build a terminal, an apron and a hangar for this and other jets in both Shenzhen and Beijing, according to Li Kun, president of Shenzhen Airlines and board chairman of Asia United.

Asia United Business Aviation plans to manage eight to nine private business jets by the end of next year and about 13 business jets by the end of 2009.

But few of them will become air taxis, said Du, adding that most private jet owners would rather keep the jet for their own use.

The company charges US$12,000 to US$15,000 a month for managing a private jet which can cost its owner more than 2 million yuan (US$263,000) a year if it operates more than 500 hours, and more than 1 million yuan per year for lying idle, he said.

Due to strict restrictions on aviation in China, the number of private jets in China remains very small, said Du.

However, private jets have becoming increasingly popular among China's rich, especially in Guangdong and Zhejiang, industry insiders say.

Seeing the market potential for private jets, four mainland airline companies have launched private jet services, including Hainan Airlines, Air China, Shanghai Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines. Shenzhen Airlines is the only air company in the Pearl River Delta to provide private jet flights.

(Shenzhen Daily August 28, 2007)