Aboulafia: Gulfstream Widebodies Top Bizjets in 2014

In his latest monthly blog post, Teal Group vice president of analysis Richard Aboulafia gave an overview of aircraft programs that he considers to be the winners (F-35, F/A-18, Gripen NG, A320neo and A330neo) and losers (Scorpion, CSeries, KC-46, 747 and A380) in 2014. Business jets were conspicuously missing from the list, so AIN asked him to address this category.

Aboulafia selected Gulfstream’s “widebody line” as the winner last year. “Strong G650 deliveries propelled the company to the number-one business jet OEM spot last year, while the G650ER added new capabilities at low cost and kept the product competitive against the Global 7000/8000,” he said. “Meanwhile, the long-awaited launch of P42 produced two new models, the G500 and G600. Gulfstream’s large-cabin market dominance now looks secure for years to come.”

The Bombardier Learjet 85 landed at the other end of the spectrum. “Hobbled by technology risk, a financially weakened and overstretched corporate parent and a dangerous competitor [Embraer] that's getting to market first, the long-awaited new Learjet faces a highly uncertain future,” Aboulafia told AIN. “Bombardier had implied that the schedule could slip a few years, but actual company information on the program has instead been replaced by rumors.”