China private jet buyers now look for utility over opulence

Shanghai

MAKERS of private jets for China's elite are shifting their focus from luxury to convenience, as a cooling economy and long-running crackdown on corruption prompt customers to demand smaller planes and even consider second-hand deals.

Utility is the watchword, say industry insiders, as buyers who once enlisted feng shui (geomancy) masters to help them design cabin interiors that might feature mahjong tables or karaoke areas now look for functional desks to work at and rest areas to sleep.