By Skies Magazine | October 22, 2013 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 43 seconds.
Bombardier received a further boost in business jet orders at NBAA, when it was announced that Flexjet, LLC had converted 30 of its Learjet 85 options into firm orders, adding an additional 20 incremental options. That brings the company’s firm total to 60 of the new jets, for an approximate value of US$1.2 billion based on 2013 list prices.
Today’s announcement followed a milestone order placed on Sept. 5, when Flexjet, LLC ordered 85 business aircraft with options for an additional 160 business jets. As of today, the company has placed 115 firm orders plus 150 options, for a US$5.6 billion total order.
Flexjet, the former fractional ownership division of Bombardier, was recently acquired by Directional Aviation Capital and is an exclusive operator of Bombardier business jets. Principal Kenn Ricci said the company is focusing on renewing its fleet.
“Our fractional customers trust us to choose which products we’ll have for the next few years,” said Ricci at an NBAA press conference. “We need to address three things: ramp appeal, mission capability, and durability. We think the Lear 85 will be a very popular product in the future.”
According to Steve Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft, the Learjet 85 program is well underway, with the first flight test vehicle now moved from the production hangar into the flight test facility. Its inaugural flight is anticipated before the end of this year, with the all-composite aircraft being billed as the fastest and most spacious Learjet to date, capable of linking New York to Los Angeles at speeds of up to 470 knots.
Ridolfi also provided an update on two other Bombardier business jet programs, the Lear 75 and the Challenger 350, both of which are included in the Sept. 5 Flexjet, LLC order.
“We’ve completed all certification, flying and testing for the superlight Lear 75 with the Bombardier Vision Flight Deck. The recent FAA shutdown has delayed things, but we have begun delivery of five aircraft for London Air Services in Vancouver, B.C. It’s very exciting times,” he said.
Flexjet, LLC’s firm order for 25 Lear 75s will be filled with a customized luxury edition, exclusive to Flexjet, and billed as the Learjet 75 LXI.
“We think there is a unique opportunity in the market for a Lear 75 LXI – a six-passenger Learjet, more spacious, where we’ve taken out the aft-facing seats, put in a cabin door, an ottoman drop-down, and changed the lighting. It will have a series of designer interiors, with each unique in its own way.”
As for the Challenger 350, launched earlier this year at the European business aviation show EBACE, Ridolfi said Bombardier will be displaying a mockup at NBAA and is two thirds of the way through the aircraft’s flight test program. Flexjet, LLC has ordered 20 Challenger 350 aircraft.
Ridolfi said recent large orders signal that the market is coming back to pre-recession levels, and he is optimistic about the future of business aviation.
