Story ID: 624BombardierMEBA
Bombardier Buoyant After VistaJet Mega-order
By: David Donald
Caption: 
Word Count: 338
Bombardier of Canada arrived at MEBA on the crest of a wave, having just landed the biggest order for business aircraft in the company’s history.

Just two weeks ago on November 27, VistaJet signed a purchase agreement with Bombardier for 25 of its Global 5000, 25 Global 6000s and six of the forthcoming Global 8000s. Total value of the deal, at list price, is about $3.1 billion. Deliveries of the transcontinental business jets are set to begin in 2014. VistaJet also took options for a further 86 Global aircraft, which could raise the total value of the agreement to $7.8 billion at 2012 prices, if they are exercised.

Two days later, Bombardier initiated the delivery of aircraft to fractional ownership operator NetJets, as the first of the company’s Signature Series fleet regeneration. Under this program NetJets has ordered several hundred business jets from Bombardier and Cessna, including Challenger 300s and 605s. The first of the new Signature Series, however, is a Global 6000 aircraft, which was handed over at Bombardier’s completion center in Montréal. NetJets reports that all shares in the aircraft have already been sold.

Bombardier’s business jet range is represented here at Al Maktoum International Airport by a Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and Global 5000 (Stand A16). The company is also demonstrating its Bombardier Vision flight deck for the first time at MEBA. This system is the first to be certified for the presentation of synthetic vision system imagery in the head-up display. The Vision flight deck entered service in March this year in a Global 5000 delivered to former Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda, and Bombardier has been demonstrating it on a major world tour.

The Middle East remains a good marketplace for Bombardier, which continues to invest in regional infrastructure and services. The Canadian OEM recently named Qatar Executive as a line maintenance facility for the Challenger 300/604/605 and Global aircraft, complementing Bombardier’s regional support office in Dubai, which is an authorized service facility. Last year Bombardier added authorized facilities in Jordan and Turkey.