Posted on November 30th, 2018
Canadian Aircraft Manufacturer Faces Challenges and Opportunities in Transition Year
Bombardier Aerospace delivered 180 business jets last year, up one from 2012. In a revealing shift within its product lineup, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer encountered a slight setback, missing its 2013 delivery target for business airplanes by 10 units. This shortfall was primarily attributed to transitioning from the Learjet 40XR and Learjet 45XR models to the newer Learjet 70 and Learjet 75 models. These updated light jets, which commenced service in the year’s final quarter, were initially expected to begin deliveries in the third quarter. This delay impacted the overall delivery numbers, with the company shipping 29 Learjets in 2013, down from 39 in 2012. However, deliveries of other models saw an uptick: 89 Challengers and 62 Globals were delivered, compared to 86 Challengers and 54 Globals in the previous year, showcasing a mixed performance across different jet categories.
Despite the challenges in the light jet segment, the company logged orders for 305 business jets in 2013, which decreased 38 from the 2012 figures. Notably, the bulk of these orders—208 in total—were secured in the year’s fourth quarter. This late surge included a significant order of 115 jets from Flexjet, shortly after its acquisition by Directional Aviation Capital, the parent company of Flight Options. This strategic acquisition and subsequent orders played a crucial role in maintaining the company’s book-to-bill ratio at a healthy 1.7:1, indicating more orders were received than billed, a positive sign in an otherwise fluctuating market.
The strategic transitions and new model introductions are part of the company’s broader efforts to streamline its offerings and better cater to the evolving demands of the luxury aviation market. By focusing on more advanced and efficient models like the Learjet 70 and Learjet 75, the manufacturer aims to enhance its competitive edge and appeal to a broader clientele despite initial production and delivery timelines hiccups.
Read the full story on AINOnline
Tags: Bombardier Challenger, Global, Challenger, Learjet, bombardier global, bombardier 2013 business jet deliveries, bombardier learjet, bombardier
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