Two foreign business-jet operators say they will expand in China to cash in on the economic boom here and increased activity abroad by domestic firms.

 

Royal Jet of the United Arab Emirates and US-based Prime Jet expressed their optimism on the sidelines of a luxury goods fair in Shanghai over the weekend.

 

"Chinese companies are now playing a vital role in so many markets around the world, and their proactive business stance requires them to travel," said Bilal Yousuf, vice-president of operations at Royal Jet.

 

Yousuf expects his firm, which now flies about once a month to and from China, to increase its China business from the current five percent of total revenue to 15 percent.

 

Prime Jet has 180 clients in China, making up 15 percent of its worldwide customer base.

 

Both companies are in talks with potential local partners to set up representative offices in China.

 

(Shanghai Daily June 4, 2007)