But with its red hues -- traditionally a lucky colour in China -- and centrepiece round table that doubles for playing mahjong, Airbus is setting its sights on the growing number of ultra-rich Chinese who can afford to shell out upwards of $65 million for their very own home and office in the sky.

"The round table with a Lazy Susan is the Chinese way of sharing and spending time together," Francois Chazelle, vice president of worldwide sales at Airbus Corporate Jets, told AFP at an air show that wrapped up in Hong Kong on Thursday.

"The first aircraft we sold into China had one and the customer immediately took to it."

Europe's Airbus says its private jet operation set a company record last year, delivering 15 planes worth $1.5 billion, with China standing out as the firm's fastest-growing market.

Driving that surge is China's red-hot economy which has produced about 875,000 millionaires and almost 200 billionaires, according to the Hurun Rich List, the Chinese equivalent of the Forbes or Sunday Times rich lists.

Chinese customers accounted for about 25 percent of business jet sales at Airbus in 2010, with sales expected to close in on the dominant oil-rich Middle East market in "a couple of years," Chazelle said.

Rival Bombardier is forecasting the industry will make 600 business jet deliveries in China between 2010 and 2019, while US-based Gulfstream is also boosting its presence in mainland China and Hong Kong, a financial hub synonymous with ultra-rich tycoons and grandiose displays of wealth.

"The race is on -- there is a lot of activity right now in China," Chazelle said.

Boeing, a major player in the US market which was pounded during the global financial crisis, made all of its private jet sales last year to Asian clients, locking up deals in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, said Jeff Dunn, the firm's Asia-Pacific sales director for business jets.

"But China is a great market for us too," he added.

"We see very steady growth in this region -- everybody is here. And I think it will stay that way. The numbers will continue to grow in Asia."

Smaller planes are popular in the US market, while bigger, long-range jets that can carry more passengers are a hit among Asia's elite, who tend to make "quick decisions and want quick delivery," Dunn said.

"Big, big and bigger is showing dominance and the interiors are very extravagant -- it's a cultural preference," he added.

"Because of long-range travel requirements from Asian customers, the cabin is very important, and so is connectivity," added David Dixon, Bombardier's regional vice president for business aircraft sales.

But almost all clients want a plane so they can do business in private, sleep in a full-size bed, or catch a shower as they race around the globe.

"It gives you a flying office," said Chazelle, who saw one customer log a remarkable 1,200 flying hours in a year, or about three hours daily.

"It was kind of a record. (Customers) want to be more efficient travelling the world," he added.

A dining area for 10 guests, "endless" hot water for bathing, casino tables, slot machines, a gym for sky-high workouts or karaoke machines to belt out your favourite tunes are all possible options for those with cash to burn.

"We've seen just about everything put in an airplane," Dunn said.

As Chinese companies spread out across the globe, private jet makers are also hoping to boost their all-important sales to corporations, along with governments that need a secure way to transport heads of state, observers said.

Restrictions on private aviation in China have been a key hurdle to tapping the market further since they make last-minute changes to a flight plan -- common among jet owners -- almost impossible, Dunn said.

But regulators appear set to loosen those restrictions, observers said.

"A lot of progress is already taking place," Chazelle said.

"Chinese regulators are being more and more welcoming to business aviation."

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