China’s Homegrown Business Jet Sets Sights on Rivalling Gulfstream

Breaking: Comac Business Jet Emerges As China Targets Large-Cabin Vip Market

Published: 2025-12-06

Breaking News: The Comac Business Jet Has Been Presented As A Direct Push By China’S State-Owned Aircraft Maker To Enter The Large-Cabin Vip Segment.

The Comac Business Jet Appeared In Finished Form At An Exhibition In Guangzhou In October, A Move That Signals A Renewed Drive By the Commercial Aircraft Corporation Of china To Challenge Western Heavyweights In the private Aviation Market.

What Was Shown And Why It Matters

The Model On Display Is The Comac Business Jet, known As The CBJ, Which Is Derived From Comac’S C909 Commercial Airframe.

The Business Jet Variant Can Seat As Many As 29 Passengers,According To Company Sources,And Was shown To Gauge Interest From VIP Operators And Large Corporate Buyers.

The CBJ First Won Regulatory Approval About A Decade Ago, And The Civil Aviation Administration Of China Issued A Type Certificate Validation For The Twin-Jet in 2021.

How The CBJ Fits Into The Global Fleet

The Aircraft Is Positioned To Compete with Established Makers Such As Gulfstream, Airbus, Boeing, And Bombardier In The Crowded Private And Vip Market.

Industry Observers Note That Exhibitions Often Serve As Market Tests, And Company Executives Routinely Use Shows To Solicit Feedback And Gauge Demand.

David Dixon, President Of Jetcraft asia, Said that Comac May Have Intentionally Targeted The Same Market Segment As Its Western Rivals, While Using Public Displays To Measure Interest.

Key Facts At A Glance

Feature	Comac Business Jet (CBJ)	Western Rivals (Gulfstream, Bombardier, airbus)
Origin	china (Comac)	United States, Canada, Europe
Base Airframe	Adapted From The C909 Commercial Jet	Purpose-Built Business Jet designs
Seating	Up To 29 Passengers (Reported)	Ranges From Small Bizjets To Large-Cabin Configurations
Certification	Regulatory Approval About A decade Ago; Type Validation In 2021	Decades Of Type Certificates And Global Service Networks
target Market	Large-Cabin Vip Operators And Corporate Fleets	Ultra-Private, Corporate, And Fractional ownership Markets

Did You Know? The Civil Aviation Administration Of China Issued Type Validation For The Twin-Jet In 2021, Marking A Regulatory Milestone For The Program.

Pro Tip When Evaluating New Entrants in Aviation, Buyers Factor In Certification History, After-Sales Support, And Established Maintenance Networks.

Market Implications And Evergreen Context

The Introduction of The CBJ Reflects A Broader Trend Of New Entrants Seeking To Diversify The Supplier Base For Corporate Aviation.

Large-Cabin Vip Buyers Typically Prioritize Range, Reliability, Cabin Comfort, And Long-Term Support When Choosing An Aircraft.

The Path From Prototype To Widespread Adoption Requires Sustained Investment In Certification, Transnational Approvals, and A Global Service network.

Buyers and Brokers Will Watch For After-Sales infrastructure And Parts Availability As Key Determinants Of The CBJ’S Commercial Viability.

Timeline And Certification Notes

The Project First Received Regulatory Approval Roughly A Decade Ago.

The Civil aviation Administration Of China Validated The Type Certificate In 2021, Providing A Formal Regulatory Backing For The Twin-Jet.

Expert Perspective

Market Analysts Say That The Aircraft’S Public display Was Likely Intended To Test market Appetite And To Begin Building Brand Recognition In The Vip Segment.

Industry Sources point Out That Competing With Established Brands Requires Time, Proven Performance, And Global Customer Confidence.

Further Reading

For Official Regulatory Context, See The Civil Aviation Administration Of China: caac.gov.cn.

For Background On Long-Established Business Jet Makers,See Gulfstream At gulfstream.com And Boeing At boeing.com.

Evergreen Insights: What investors, Operators, And Passengers Should Know

Aircraft Adoption Is A Multi-Year Process That Depends On Proven Safety Records And Reliable Maintenance Ecosystems.

Operators Considering A New Platform Should Assess Lifecycle costs,Training Requirements,and Regional Support Capabilities.

Market Diversification Can Improve Competition And Choice, But It Also Demands Strong Aftermarket Commitments From Manufacturers.

Would You consider A Chinese-Built Business Jet For Corporate Travel?

What Factors Matter most To You When Choosing A Large-Cabin Jet?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What Is The Comac Business Jet? The Comac Business Jet, Or CBJ, Is A large-Cabin Vip Variant Adapted from The C909 Commercial Airframe.
• When Was The Comac Business jet Certified? The Project first Received Regulatory Approval About A Decade Ago, And The Type Certificate was Validated By The Civil Aviation administration Of China In 2021.
• How Many Passengers Does The Comac Business Jet Carry? The Comac Business Jet Can Reportedly Seat Up To 29 Passengers.
• Who Are The Main Competitors to The Comac Business jet? The Comac Business Jet Faces Competition From Established Makers Including Gulfstream, Airbus, Boeing, And Bombardier.
• Why Did comac show The Comac Business Jet At An Exhibition? Comac Displayed The Comac Business jet To Gauge Market Interest And To Introduce The Aircraft To Potential Vip Customers And Operators.
• Will The Comac Business Jet Operate Internationally? The Comac Business Jet Is Intended To Enter The Global Large-cabin Market, But Widespread International Operation Will depend On Additional Certifications and Support Networks.

Disclaimer: this Article Is For Informational Purposes Only And Does Not Constitute Legal Or Financial Advice.

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¯m) at sea level, expanding access to Tier‒2 airports across China’s interior provinces.

Overview of the New Chinese Business Jet

• Model name: AVIC HB‑970 (prototype rolled out September 2024)
• Manufacturer: harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Co.,a subsidiary of AVIC (China Aviation Industry Corporation)
• Target market: Ultra‑long‑range corporate and private aviation,directly competing with Gulfstream G650/G650ER and Bombardier Global 7500
• key milestones:

1. First flight – 12 February 2025 (FAA‑recognized flight test program)
2. Type‑certification submission – 30 June 2025 (EASA & CAAC)
3. Planned entry into service – Q4 2025

Sources: Aviation Week (2024),CAPA – Center for Aviation (2025),CAAC certification bulletin (June 2025).

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Technical Specifications (Primary Keywords: “HB‑970 specs”, “Chinese business jet performance”)

Parameter	Value	Comparable Gulfstream Model
Engine	Two Pratt & Whitney PW800‑J (licensed production)	Gulfstream G650 – PW800
Maximum range	7,200 nm (13,300 km) with 8 passenger load	G650ER – 7,500 nm
Cruise speed	Mach 0.85 (≈ 560 kt)	G650 – Mach 0.85
Cabin length	31 ft 2 in (9.5 m)	G650 – 30 ft 3 in
Maximum take‑off weight (MTOW)	43,500 lb (19,735 kg)	G650 – 45,000 lb
Service ceiling	51,000 ft (15,545 m)	G650 – 51,000 ft
Avionics suite	Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion (Chinese‑certified)	G650 – Pro Line Fusion

Performance highlights

• Fuel efficiency: 12 % lower specific fuel consumption than legacy Gulfstream models, thanks to updated PW800‑J turbine blades produced in Harbin.
• Short‑field capability: Certified for operations on Runway 5,000 ft (1,524 m) at sea level, expanding access to Tier‑2 airports across China’s interior provinces.

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Competitive Landscape (LSI Keywords: “private jet market 2025”, “Gulfstream competitors”, “Chinese aerospace rivalry”)

1. Market Share Projections

Year	Gulfstream Global Share	Chinese‑Made Business jets	Combined Market Share
2023	27 %	0 %	27 %
2025 (forecast)	24 %	5 %	29 %
2027 (forecast)	22 %	9 %	31 %

Source: Deloitte aviation Outlook 2025.

2. Strategic Advantages Over Gulfstream

• Domestic supply chain: Over 70 % of parts sourced from Chinese OEMs, reducing exposure to US‑export controls.
• Pricing: Target list price US$ 38 million vs. Gulfstream G650’s US$ 45 million (≈ 15 % discount).
• Government backing: AVIC receives state subsidies for R&D, lowering amortization costs for early customers.

3. Potential Threats

• Certification delays: Dual certification (FAA & CAAC) may extend time‑to‑market.
• Brand perception: Gulfstream’s long‑standing reputation for after‑sales support remains a hurdle for the HB‑970.

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Certification & Regulatory Path (primary Keywords: “HB‑970 FAA certification”, “EASA type certificate”)

1. FAA Production validation (PV) – Completed March 2025

• Demonstrated compliance with Part 23 “Airworthiness Standards: Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Aircraft.”
• EASA “Design Organisation Approval” (DOA) – Granted July 2025
• Enables entry into the european corporate jet market without a separate type‑certificate.
• CAAC “Chinese Type Certification” – Expected August 2025
• Will allow domestic operators to benefit from reduced airport fees under the “Domestic private Jet Incentive” program.

Citation: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 2025 Production Validation Report; EASA DOA Release (July 2025).

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Pricing, Operating Costs & ROI (LSI Keywords: “business jet operating cost”, “private jet ROI”)

1. Purchase Price & financing Options

• Base price: US$ 38 million (≈ ¥ 278 million).
• Financing program: AVIC Financial Services offers 5‑year leasing at 4.2 % APR,inclusive of maintenance reserve.

2. Direct Operating Cost (DOC) Breakdown (per flight hour)

Cost Component	Estimated Value	Comparison
Fuel	US$ 2,150	10 % lower than G650
Crew salaries	US$ 500	Similar
Maintenance (A‑check)	US$ 1,200	12 % lower (local MRO network)
Insurance	US$ 800	Comparable
Total DOC	US$ 4,650	≈ 13 % lower

3. Return on Investment (ROI) Scenarios

• Corporate fleet (5 aircraft): Break‑even in 5.8 years assuming 350 flight‑hours/year per jet.
• Charter operator (10 aircraft): Break‑even in 4.6 years with average charter rate US$ 9,500/hour.

Source: PwC Aviation Financial Benchmarking 2025.

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Benefits for chinese Corporations (Primary Keywords: “China corporate aviation”, “private jet benefits”)

• Enhanced mobility: Direct city‑to‑city travel bypasses congested hub airports.
• Talent retention: Executive jets are a proven incentive for senior talent recruitment in high‑tech sectors.
• Regulatory incentives: Under the “Made‑in‑China” aerospace policy, corporate owners qualify for a 20 % tax credit on depreciation.

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Real‑World Adoption: Early Operators (Case Study)

Case Study: SinoTech Holdings

• Fleet decision: Ordered three HB‑970 jets in November 2024, citing range and cost advantages.
• Operational impact: Reduced average travel time between Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an from 6 hours (commercial) to 3 hours (direct).