2021 China General Aviation Report

GA MARKET OVERVIEW
Amongst general aviation flight operations, the flight hours of
license training accounted for 65% and ranked the highest in
2020. Next was the utility and air tourism, with a market share of
26%. The remainder includes transportation and charter, which
accounts for 9% of the market share.
The number of general aviation operators has shown continuous
growth since 2014. However, this trend has gradually slowed.
In June 2021, 454 general aviation operators were operating in
mainland China - two fewer than at the end of 2020. Additionally,
newly added operators experienced continuous growth from
2013, reaching a peak in 2018. There were 109 new operators
starting business operations in 2018. After 2018 the number of
new enterprises gradually reduced. For the first half of 2021, there
were a total of 23 newly added operators.
During the same period a total of 25 operators ceased operations,
marking the first time that there were more operators closing
operations than beginning. A lot of the operators that suspended
operations specialized in license training or sky tours. The rest
included business charter flights, forestry, or EMS. The majority of
operators are small enterprises.
In June 2021, the number of general aviation aircraft was 3,066,
giving a growth rate of 4% compared to the end of 2020. The
number of aircraft has seen continuous growth since 2014. The
growth reduced in 2016 and then bounced back in 2017. Since
then it has been slowly declining.
As of June 2021, fixed-wing turboprops and pistons accounted
for 52% of the general aviation market share in mainland China
and ranked first amongst various aircraft types. Helicopters and
business jets came second and third, each with a market share of
34% and 12%, respectively. The rest of the general aviation aircraft
accounted for 2% of the fleet.
When comparing the growth trend amongst flight hours, the
number of operators, and aircraft, Asian Sky Group expects that
the general aviation market will maintain its positive growth during
2021. Furthermore, the growth stage is over. Now, the market
is facing a trend of the biggest operators gradually becoming
stronger and larger.
6 | CHINA GA REPORT 2021