The world's largest aircraft charter broker Chapman Freeborn has announced a major drive to open up the international private jet market for China's thriving corporate sector.

The UK-headquartered company, which will showcase its expertise at this month's Shanghai International Business Aviation Show (SIBAS), is aiming at becoming the market leader for private aviation in China.

While Chapman Freeborn has had an established sales and marketing operation in Beijing since 2004 and already works with clients such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), it believes the private jet market in China is developing at a significant rate.

Alex Berry, Group Executive Sales and Marketing Director at Chapman Freeborn, says: "The arrival of the new air show in Shanghai is a very good indicator that China is now ready to embrace international private jet travel."

"Until now there hasn't been a pure business aviation show organized in mainland China, yet the market demand is huge. Private aviation can help Chinese corporations further their reach in the global marketplace, and make more efficient use of their talented management teams."

Appearing alongside Chapman Freeborn at SIBAS will be several leading aerospace manufacturers including Bombardier, Gulfstream and Boeing Business Jets who will display some of the newest aircraft types available to purchase.

In contrast to mature markets such as the US which boasts as many as 200,000 privately owned aircraft; China currently has no more than a few hundred jets. This is a situation the industry predicts will quickly change.

Alex Berry comments: "As China's economy continues to grow there is no question that private aviation will take off massively in China."

"Much like we saw in the emerging Russian market ten years ago the number of private jets will soar as executive travellers recognise the benefits of business aviation."

However, Berry predicts that while the number of jets in China will undoubtedly increase, the country may not follow the US and European model of buying jets outright or opting for fractional ownership schemes.

"Even in mature jet markets like the US and Europe we're seeing that business models based on ownership that made financial sense in the 1980s and 90s are no longer viable in the current economy."

"In China corporations won't necessarily want the fiscal burden of owning their own jets, and they are maybe less inclined than other nations to make such a bold statement of wealth. For this reason private chartering might be the biggest winner in the Chinese business aviation boom as there are no acquisition fees and corporations aren't locked into long term contracts."

"Working with Chapman Freeborn companies can mix and match private and commercial options to maximize their productivity and minimize cost, and having a relationship with one supplier to cover their requirements globally."

The Shanghai International Business Aviation Show is taking place Apr. 13-15 at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.