“China is the business jet market for the next decade,” Boeing Business Jets president Steve Taylor said here yesterday at ABACE. He predicted “steady growth” for BBJ orders and deliveries in China, fueled mainly by aircraft charter operator customers that–unlike in other parts of the world–are the dominant players for new business jets in the Asian country.

China is also unlike the rest of the world in its insatiable appetite for large-cabin jets and bizliners, noted Taylor. While the worldwide market share for this segment is 21 percent, in China it is a staggering 55 percent.

Of the 156 in-service Boeing Business Jets, 31 are in the Asia Pacific region, with 10 of those in China. Overall, the Asia Pacific region accounts for 17 percent of the 206 Boeing BBJs and VIP aircraft that have been ordered to date. Boeing has so far delivered 174 bizliners, with 18 of those–including the first 747-8 VIP that was delivered on February 28–now in completion (for a customer in the Gulf).

Last year, Boeing shipped seven BBJs and a 777 VIP to customers and received two net orders for a BBJ2 and a 747-8 VIP, according to Taylor. The company plans to deliver 12 aircraft this year, including eight 747-8 VIPs, two BBJs and two BBJ2s.

One of these upcoming 2012 BBJ deliveries will be for Beijing-based Deer Jet, bringing its fleet of the type to three. The charter provider, part of the Hainan Airlines Group, is already the largest BBJ operator in China, said Deer Jet president Zhang Zhi.