Chinese firm ICBC Financial Leasing is seeking to double the number of aircraft deliveries by the end of 2016.

News agency Reuters reported that the the aircraft lessor aims to deliver more than 300 aircraft to customers during this period.

ICBC Financial aviation finance managing director Mark Jiang was quoted by Reuters as saying: "Local companies have been expanding quickly and the growth potential is huge."

"Local companies have been expanding quickly and the growth potential is huge."

Supported by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, ICBC currently manages 384 aircraft, up from 60 three years ago, with 17 domestic and 34 overseas customers.

According to Boeing, China continues to lead the Asia-Pacific region with the Chinese airlines requiring approximately 6,000 new commercial jets worth $780bn over the next two decades.

Jiang said that Chinese lessors, led by ICBC and CDB Leasing, currently handle 80% of new leasing business in the country.

Industry consultancy Ascend stated that these lessors are expected to capture 55% of the entire Chinese market by 2018, up from 38% in 2013.

Fitch Ratings senior director Illya Ivashkov said: "Chinese firms have shown the ability to go into the market in a very significant way.

"Some of them have placed sizeable orders."

Defence Technology