China's Deer Jet May Buy a Global Express as Demand Soars for Business Travel

Deer Jet, China's first successful --and, it says, the only--business jet charter operation, may be the first in the region to buy a Global Express. The deal, it says, is pending.

The company already operates three Hawker 800XPs, and will take delivery of three more within the next year.

Now in its sixth year of operation (although formally founded in 1998), Deer Jet can get flight permits at reasonable cost to all civil and military airports, and air traffic clearances to such places as North Korea and Mongolia. This influence is due to it being a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, in which international financier George Soros has a stake (although he planned to reduce it from 17.5% earlier this year). Hainan's mixed fleet includes orders and options for 40 Fairchild Dornier 328JETs.

Deer Jet recently introduced a promotion from its four bases of Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen of $2,800 per domestic flight hour and $3,150 for international flights.

Earlier this year Deer Jet bought two Agusta A109 Power HPS helicopters to carry pilots to ships in Shanghai harbor.