ExecuJet Haite Sees China’s Bizav Market Bouncing Back

Business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul group ExecuJet Haite is spotlighting another year of strategic expansion, foreign approvals, and new service offerings. Speaking to AIN at the Aero Asia show in Zhuhai, general manager Paul Desgrosseilliers highlighted the China-based company’s continued growth, including at its 54,000-sq-ft hangar at Daxing Airport near Beijing.

“We opened our new facility at Daxing earlier this year after receiving the necessary approvals. Now we’re focused on building out all our capabilities there,” Desgrosseilliers explained. “We’re also doing the same at Beijing Capital Airport, expanding our line maintenance offerings. We’ve got a number of foreign approvals this year, including Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and recently Guernsey, and now we’re talking to Indonesia and Thailand for next year.”

In parallel, ExecuJet Haite has been growing its FAA-approved capabilities to work on U.S.-registered jets and is already cleared for those carrying tail numbers from the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. The company is seeking to significantly expand the level of support it can provide for operators of Dassault Falcon and Bombardier models. It recently added the Gulfstream G700 large-cabin jet to the certificate for the authorized warranty facility it operates for the U.S. manufacturer.

“2026 is really about expanding our capabilities, and we’re now working to grow our [cabin] interior refurbishment business,” Desgrosseilliers said. “We can offer some competitive advantages in terms of pricing in China, as well as being close to the supply chain. Many of the products that we’re putting into these airplanes are coming from China, so being close gives us advantages in pricing, downtime, and quality.”

Chinese Bizjet Fleet Could Recover

While acknowledging that China’s business aviation fleet has contracted in recent years, Desgrosseilliers sees encouraging signs of renewed activity. Discussions with manufacturers indicate that new sales opportunities are emerging, with contracts now being negotiated rather than just fielding expressions of interest. 

“There’s always been interest in business aviation in China, but until recently, there wasn’t the willingness to pull the trigger,” he said. “Now, we’re seeing real sales activity, and I’m slightly optimistic that we may be turning a corner.” 

While the Chinese business aviation market is not expected to return to the peak levels of the early 2010s, the current momentum suggests a measurable rebound, with new aircraft deliveries, including Gulfstream G700s and Bombardier CRJs, already underway. ExecuJet Haite is also seeing more activity from foreign business jet operators flying into China, particularly from the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, the rise of China’s so-called low-altitude economy is presenting opportunities for ExecuJet Haite as well as for the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), where Desgrosseilliers serves as treasurer. Its signature safety conferences, supported by Bombardier, provide a forum for operators to share insights and best practices, which can serve as guidance for new entrants to aviation, he added.

AsBAA held safety conferences at its pavilion on Aero Asia’s opening day. On Saturday, the association will run its Discovery educational program, introducing local high school and university students to business aviation through tours, lectures, and hands-on experiences, aiming to inform and engage the next generation of aviation professionals.