VistaJet identified itself today as the unnamed customer behind a firm order for 10 super-midsize Challenger 350s, one of Bombardier’s biggest fleet orders in 2020. Additionally, VistaJet announced it has taken delivery of two Global 7500s from the Canadian airframer, part of an order for up to 12 of Bombardier’s flagship business jet over the next two years.
Most of the Challenger 350s are expected to be delivered in 2022, VistaJet said, at a time when the charter provider has noted a 50 percent increase in interest in the aircraft by corporations globally. Super-midsize business jets are driving higher demand among new and existing customers, VistaJet added.
“It is an incredibly exciting time as VistaJet transforms the architecture of how companies and individuals fly,” said VistaJet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr. “We continue to see rapid acceleration in new members, which is driven by corporate and executive demand for our business mobility offerings.”
In the first quarter, VistaJet saw 23 percent year-over-year growth in hours sold and a 90 percent increase in program members. “We remain committed to providing critical support to businesses in this new world—we kept our business steady during 2020 and we are seeing much-increased demand for VistaJet’s asset-free solutions in 2021 and beyond,” Flohr added.
The two Global 7500s delivered today will be for use by all VistaJet members, a spokeswoman told AIN. She explained that all of the hours of a Global 7500 delivered to VistaJet in 2019 were purchased by one member, and thus that aircraft was not available for use by others.
This year, VistaJet said it will complete the upgrade of its entire Challenger 850 fleet, including the installation of Ku-band connectivity and enhancing the type’s cabin.
Also getting Ku-band connectivity and a cabin refresh by the end of this year will be all of its Challenger 605s, as well as 95 percent of its Global 6000s. Its current Challenger 350 fleet will receive the same updates by the end of 2022.
The additional Global 7500s and Challenger 350s will push VistaJet’s global fleet to more than 90 aircraft operating in 187 countries.