G800 Driving Sales at Gulfstream, Says Jefferies

Gulfstream Aerospace’s 71% increase in orders, to $4.3 billion, in the third quarter was driven by G800 sales, according to analyst Jefferies. The OEM’s backlog now extends to more than two years of aircraft production, given Jefferies’ delivery forecast of 156 Gulfstream jets this year and 160 next year. This growth will be mostly driven by the G800, the analyst said, with an estimated 13 of the ultra-long-range jets to be handed over this year, rising to a forecasted 20 next year.

Notably, Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, said on Friday during an earnings call that most of the G800 orders are from existing G650/650ER customers who are looking to upgrade, while those for the G700 are “incremental” and thus additive.

She attributed much of Gulfstream’s sales growth to the North American market, as well as its strategy of replacing the “entirety of the Gulfstream fleet with new products.” The aircraft manufacturer’s G700 and G800 entered service over the past 18 months, and its in-development G300 and G400 are poised to enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively, according to Jefferies.

Meanwhile, those hoping that Gulfstream’s next announced jet is supersonic will be left disappointed with Novakovic’s remarks from Friday: “We have yet to see a business case that even remotely works” for a supersonic business jet.