Morgan Stanley's Heidi Wood says the government's decision last month to reduce the requirement to file flight plans to several hours - instead of days or weeks - could be the spark that finally opens China's lucrative but long-elusive bizjet market. The change was "made so quietly its true consequences have yet to be realized," she wrote in a research note issued Monday, noting that shortly after the relaxation five new Gulfstream G650/G550s were ordered by Chinese customers.

A surge in new orders couldn't come quick enough for beleaguered business jet manufacturers, who were forced to drastically cut production and lay off thousands of employees after the global credit crisis led to widespread cancellations and dramatically reduced new orders. Cessna, for example, saw nearly half of its backlog evaporate in just nine months.