China’s Apex Air (which has a Bombardier Challenger 850 on the ABACE 2019 static display, at SD 20) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with online travel agent Ctrip, allowing the business jet operator access to the country’s largest online travel agent network.

The partnership will allow potential users to enquire and book Ctrip’s charter services, at prices close to first-class service in commercial airlines. The company expects the service to go online from May this year, tapping access to about 300 million users worldwide.

Xiong Xin, Ctrip ticketing sales and international business CEO, said in a statement that the company will invest more resources to meet customer demands in this industry. He added that as Ctrip has deep digital technology capability along with a large consumer base, and Shanghai-based Apex Air has extensive expertise in business aviation, the partnership between the two companies will make digitalization of business travel possible. 

Apex Air CEO He Dan added that the partnership with Ctrip is an enormous breakthrough in the company’s business model and, in an age of rapid development of internet technology, such tools will improve the interactions between the client and operator as well as reduce middleman costs.