Why are rich Chinese ‘quietly’ moving private jets offshore, slumming it in budget seats?

China’s ultra-wealthy are quietly parking their private jets offshore to sidestep tougher compliance rules at home, while corporate executives are downgrading to commercial flights, analysts say, as economic headwinds hit the country’s business aircraft fleet.

Aircraft owned by affluent Chinese nationals are said to be increasingly resurfacing in hubs such as Singapore and Japan, while more billionaires and corporate executives are turning to first-class commercial cabins or timeshare jet services for overseas travel.

The number of business jets in mainland China fell to 249 last year from 270 in 2023, according to Hong Kong-based aviation services firm Asian Sky Group. The charter fleet has also shrunk, dropping by three aircraft to 46 as of June this year, compared with two years prior.

In contrast, Hong Kong logged a net gain of one business jet last year, bringing its total to 56, while Singapore saw its count increase by nine and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole added 14 for a total of 1,156, Asian Sky Group found.

A growing share of the planes outside mainland China belong to Chinese owners, said Subramania Bhatt, CEO of the travel marketing and technology firm China Trading Desk. “What we’re seeing is more aircraft quietly rebased in places like Singapore and Japan,” he said.

Analysts said some operators feel daunted by restrictions on private jet use.

South China Morning Post