Private aviation group Sino Jet is stepping up its plans to be a leader in China’s emerging advanced air mobility (AAM) sector following its announcement in August that it will buy 100 of the AE200 eVTOL aircraft being developed by the Aerofugia subsidiary of the Geely automotive group. The tiltrotor model is expected to carry five passengers and have a range of up to around 300 kilometers (188 miles).
According to Jenny Lau, president of Hong Kong-based Sino Jet, the partnership aligns with the business aircraft operator’s strategic vision to offer a complete range of transportation services to its clients, including last-mile connections. Beyond aircraft management and charter flights, the company plans to invest in new FBO private terminals in mainland China.
In addition to its joint headquarters operations in Hong Kong and Beijing, the company has operating bases in some 20 cities, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Zhuhai, and Chengdu. It operates around 50 aircraft, including several Gulfstream jets and Embraer Legacy models. The group also has premises in Singapore and earlier this year became the first Chinese business aircraft operator to establish a regional office in Europe.
“We conducted extensive research, evaluating different models, including eVTOLs with basic cabins, two-seater configurations, autonomous capabilities, and short-range capabilities," Lau explained. “The AE200 is more of a transformative product that complements the preferences of our clientele. It features an elegant cabin suitable for four to five passengers, ample range, and the presence of a pilot on board, which is crucial for the initial stage of eVTOL operations.”
Sino Jet envisages the AE200 providing flight connections across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the triangle-shaped Yangtze River Delta region, encompassing Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. China’s government has earmarked these two metropolitan areas for low-altitude economic development, with a view to encouraging electric aircraft to operate over distances of between 50 and 200 kilometers.
Sichuan, which is a key province as part of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic region, has also been selected for early adoption of eVTOL air services. Last month, Aerofugia, in partnership with the Civil Aviation Flight University of China, officially established the country's first provincial-level all-electric aircraft research facility. Called the Sichuan All-Electric Aviation Aircraft Key Technology Engineering Research Center, it will cover approximately 2,200 square meters and is slated for completion in 2025. The facility will mainly carry out testing in areas such as all-electric aircraft motor system designs, motor thermodynamic analysis, and anti-icing.
According to Lau, Aerofugia is expected to carry out a full-scale AE200 prototype flight test “very soon.” Assuming the manufacturer can meet what looks like an ambitious timeline for type certification, Sino Jet plans to introduce the eVTOL vehicle to its fleet in the first quarter of 2026.
“For the first 10 to 20 aircraft, we will still be in test mode,” Lau explained. “We need to work closely with the manufacturer and create a system that works for the Chinese market. Connecting the community to the airport is complex and will require a lot of government support. We will be taking a phased approach; safety is also critical to operations. The whole industry needs to have safety in the blood when we launch initial operations.”
China Seeks Economic Boost from Low-Altitude Airspace
While China has been loosening the regulatory grip on low-altitude airspace for general aviation since 2010 and recently issued a type certificate for EHang’s EH216-S two-seat eVTOL aircraft, building a robust eVTOL ecosystem will be time-consuming, Lau emphasized. Air taxi services and public acceptance not only hinge on government and local municipality support but also on the designation of cities to be used as test areas that allow for eVTOL and vertiport safety demonstrations.
Nonetheless, Lau is optimistic that successful eVTOL testing in key cities will eventually lead to rapid and widespread acceptance, adding that the Chinese market can be quick to accept innovative products. Regions that stand out include the Bao’an district of Shenzhen in China’s Guangdong province, which made headlines in August by introducing a range of research and development and manufacturing subsidies with the aim of becoming a 100-billion-yuan ($13.7 billion) AAM cluster. Lau also considers Hangzhou, the capital of China's Zhejiang province, a key part of the country’s AAM strategy.
In the Yangtze River Delta, the Hefei Municipal Government in Anhui Province plans to develop a low-altitude economic ecosystem in Hefei City. EHang recently announced that it would join Hefei's Full-Space Unmanned System Integrated Application Demonstration Project and launch regular operations utilizing uncrewed aerial vehicles in Luogang Central Park. With Luogang designated to become an urban air mobility (UAM) hub, the municipality has committed to buying no fewer than 100 units of the EH216 series UAVs and will provide $100 million in financial assistance.
“There needs to be clear regulations, friendly policies, and a framework to safely welcome eVTOL operations and breakthrough technology for UAM,” Lau explained, adding that adequate human resources, including English-literate workforces, are critical to exporting aerial vehicles outside of China.
“While there is still a lot of uncertainty, there is a recognition that new solutions are needed to address ground transportation in mass-populated cities,” she concluded. “With the right human capital, the right technology, and the right product against the right frameworks, I believe there can be great demand for air mobility. I am very happy to see the government and industry stakeholders invest a lot of money and tailor regulations to these innovative products. The sector is moving forward in a very professional way.”
