Contributor - Asia

Jennifer Meszaros

Chinese private charter operator Deer Jet has become the launch operator for the Comac Business Jet (CBJ). The aircraft, registered in China as B-65A9, made an initial commercial flight between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (ZSSS) and Beijing Capital (ZBAA) on Monday.
The CBJ, which is based on Comac’s C909 regional airliner, can carry up to 29 passengers in a cabin that is just more than 62 feet long. Deer Jet—the business aviation arm of airline and services group HNA Aviation—will base its CBJ bizliner in Shanghai.
The company also runs a chain of seven FBOs across China in Haikou, Shenzhen, Sanya, Hangzhou, Guangxi (Nanning and Guilin), and Changsha, as well as several aircraft maintenance facilities. The CBJ is Deer Jet’s first Chinese aircraft model, with the rest of the fleet coming from Western manufacturers.
Powered by a pair of GE Aerospace’s CF34-10A engines, the CBJ can carry eight passengers up to 2,800 nm, cruising at Mach 0.78 at 35,000 feet (though certified to 39,000 feet). According to Comac, the jet can operate from high-altitude airports at up to 14,470 feet msl.
HNA Aviation chairman Ding Yongzheng said the group operates both the airliner and private jet versions of the C909. In an announcement this week, Deer Jet’s president, Zhou Wei, said it will now expand its services for high-net-worth individuals and corporations in China.
According to Comac, the C909 aircraft has now logged more than one million flight hours. The state-backed manufacturer has delivered 185 examples of the 90-seat narrowbody airliner, which entered service in June 2016 as the ARJ21.
<h2>China’s Bizav Sector by Numbers</h2>
Founded in 1995 as China’s first business jet operator, Deer Jet holds three air operator certificates with bases in Beijing, Shanghai,&nbsp;and Hong Kong. The group manages a fleet of nearly 50 aircraft, covering Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Boeing BBJ,&nbsp;and Airbus ACJ types.
Mainland China’s private jet fleet stood at 243&nbsp;at the end of 2025, according to Asian Sky Group, with Greater China totaling 332. According to that data source, Bombardier led the region with 311 aircraft, Gulfstream&nbsp;with&nbsp;292, and long-range models captured 75% of new deliveries last year.
The CBJ’s operational launch coincides with broader Comac momentum. On June 23, Chengdu Airlines launched the Urumqi–Hejing–Kashgar route with the C909, the type’s second high-altitude plateau service.
China Southern Airlines on June 12 took delivery of its 11th C919, following the completion of the first C-check by Gameco on a China Southern C919 in late May. Separately, the C919-600 shortened&nbsp;high-altitude&nbsp;variant has been reported to have commenced taxiing tests,&nbsp;signaling&nbsp;a broadening of the C919 family beyond the initial baseline model.

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