Honda Aircraft, which established its first dealership in China late last year, is paving the ground to cement its reach in the region. The dealer, HondaJet China (Honsan General Aviation Co.), plans to launch a new charter operation at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and to build an 8,800-sq-m addition to the dealership facilities there.

In October, Honda Aircraft appointed Honsan General Aviation as its sales, service, and support provider in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The new venture celebrated the opening of its facilities in Guangzhou three months ago.

Since establishing that presence, the HondaJet has attracted “tremendous interest” from buyers in the region with eight orders already in hand, said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino. Honda Aircraft has applied for type validation for the HondaJet in China, a process that Fujino said has been going “better than I thought [it would]." The Japanese company hopes to deliver the first aircraft into China by year-end.

Fujino noted that while buyers in the region are similar to those in the U.S., the operational demands are less from private owners and more for commercial services. Hoping to tap into that demand, the HondaJet China will launch a new commercial operation, FlightJoy, next year initially with three aircraft. Based at Guangzhou, the operation will contemplate a variety of service offerings, such as charter and jet-card options.

The expansion of HondaJet China's facilities in Guangzhou, adjacent to the FBO there, will include space for an MRO, a sales showroom with an area dedicated to buyers customizing their aircraft, and other administrative functions.

This growth comes as Honda Aircraft continues to build its presence both in Asia and globally. In Asia, the company recently signed a memorandum with ANA Holdings that will have the HondaJet used for feeder operations for the Japanese airline.

Honda Aircraft also recently expanded into India, naming Arrow Aircraft Sales and Charters to be its dealer there. It recently embarked on a demo tour in India and has applied for type validation from Indian aviation authorities. In addition, Honda Aircraft has established a dealer in Thailand, extending its reach in Southeast Asia.

The company now has a presence in North, South, and Latin America and Europe, in addition to the Asia-Pacific. The HondaJet fleet now comprises eighty-three aircraft, with the 100^th jet being rolled out last month ready for presentation to the customer next month.

Fujino noted that the fleet has achieved a 99.6 percent dispatch reliability to date, and twice in the past six months a HondaJet has completed a round-the-globe voyage.