Lenexa, Kansas-based fractional ownership provider Airshare is ordering up to 20 Bombardier Challenger 3500s, potentially doubling its fleet of super-midsize Challengers, Bombardier announced this morning. Airshare in May 2021 placed an order for up to 20 Challenger 350s, the predecessor to the 3500, moving into larger aircraft after building its fractional program around Embraer Phenom 300s.
That original Challenger order included three aircraft and 17 options, but Bombardier noted that Airshare is placing the follow-on order as it exercises all the options from the initial deal. The latest contract includes firm orders for four Challenger 3500s and options for 16 more. At list prices, the latest deal could be worth $544 million, if all options are exercised.
“The response we have received to the Challenger entering our fractional program has been tremendous, from both new and existing customers,” said Airshare president and CEO John Owen. “The strength of our partnership made it easy for us to accelerate our plans to order more of these aircraft to meet customer demand.”
Airshare offers 1/16th shares in the Challenger, which includes 20 days and unlimited flight time during those days up to a maximum of a 14-hour crew duty day. The Airshare program also provides a 25 percent discount on the hourly rate when shareowners begin and end flight days at the same location.