Xu Lidong, chairman of HNA's [HNAIRC.UL] wholly-owned private jet division made the comments to Reuters on the sidelines of a business jet conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Reuters has reported, citing industry sources, that the cash strapped Chinese conglomerate put the $300-million-plus, 40-seat Boeing 787 jet that sports a "seven-star" hotel-style cabin up for sale in July.

The jet carries the registration "2-DEER". Xu declined to comment on what the price tag was but said, "it's not very easy to sell. The price is a factor."

Faced with pressure from Beijing, aviation-to-hotels group HNA has been selling real estate stakes in overseas companies and aviation-related assets after a $50-billion acquisition spree in recent years.

It has also turned to state-owned China Cinda Asset Management Co, among the country's largest bad debt managers, for advice on asset disposals, Reuters reported on Thursday.

(Reporting by Stella Qiu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Keith Weir)