Bombardier Delivers First Global 7500 Aircraft in Indonesia

Photo Matthias Geiger

Bombardier has announced it has delivered the first Global 7500 business jet to a client in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

There is now a fleet of more than 50 Global 7500 aircraft flying in the world today in multiple countries including Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Malaysia.

“Global aircraft are designed to deliver the ultimate in luxury, performance and smooth ride over

long-distance flights, making them ideally suited to customers in the Asia-Pacific region who are looking to connect far-flung city pairs,” said Nilesh Pattanayak, Regional Vice President, Sales, Asia Pacific, Bombardier. “The ultra-long-range Global 7500 aircraft opens up a world of possibilities for convenient and productive travel.”

Bombardier has so far refused to say who the client is that has purchased this latest business jet, which has a range of around 7,700 nautical miles, so it could take passengers non-stop from Jakarta to Seattle! 

All Bombardier Global aircraft are equipped with Pũr Air, a sophisticated air purification and circulation system with an advanced and scientifically proven HEPA filter, capturing up to 99.99% of allergens, bacteria and viruses.

Bombardier is significantly expanding its customer service footprint in the Asia-Pacific region with the creation of a state-of-the-art customer service centre at Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne, Australia. The facility is targeted to be operational in 2022. Meanwhile, the ambitious expansion of Bombardier’s Singapore Service Centre is ongoing. 

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Luxair “Be pride. Be Luxembourg” aircraft lands at London City Airport

Photo London City Airport / Luxair

On June 11th a Luxair Bombardier Q400 aircraft, sporting a new special livery, celebrating pride month, landed at London City Airport.

 

The new livery was designed in partnership with the Luxembourg association Rosa Lëtzebuerg, which has been actively fighting for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community since 1996. The fuselage and cabin interior decoration now bear the rainbow colours of the pride flag. With its "Be pride. Be Luxembourg", Luxair will spread the message of inclusiveness throughout Europe. 

Luxair decided to partner with Rosa Lëtzebuerg and show its support to the LGBTIQ+ community with well-defined activities, both internally and externally, and to convey, once again, a clear message, which encourages everyone to express their true personality and live their identity freely.

Photo London City Airport / Luxair

Luxair is also launching a range of products to commemorate the event and encourages everyone to wear the Luxair colours for Luxembourg Pride Week, which will take place in Esch-sur-Alzette from the 3rd to 11th July 2021. Among the products offered, customers will be able to discover: mugs, thermal bottles, T-Shirts, pins and "remove before flight" key rings. They will be available as of June 2nd, in the Luxair Travel Stores, in the departure hall at Luxembourg Airport and in Munsbach, 25 rue Gabriel Lippmann, Munsbach. All profits from these sales will be donated to the Rosa Lëtzebuerg association.

US Air Force orders another Global 6000 aircraft with options for 5 more

A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node-equipped E-11A aircraft rolls out on the flight line at Hanscom Air Force Base   Photo by Mark Herlihy

Canadian manufacturer, Bombardier announced on Thursday that its Learjet subsidiary had entered into a contract with U.S. Air Force in support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) programme for another Global 6000 aircraft. Plus an option on as many as five additional aircraft.

Bombardier has already delivered four Global aircraft to the U.S. Air Force since 2007 for the BACN programme, an airborne relay that extends communication ranges, bridges between radio frequencies and “translates” among incompatible communications systems. BACN aircraft are known in the U.S. Air Force as the E-11A.

“Bombardier is proud to be chosen once again by the U.S. Air Force to provide our high-performing Global aircraft and our unique expertise in support of the BACN programme,” said Michel Ouellette, Executive Vice President, Specialized Aircraft, Programmes and Engineering, Bombardier. “Our U.S.-based employees are honoured to be lending their skills in support of this elite project.”

Because of its flexible deployment options and ability to operate at high altitudes, BACN allows air and surface forces to overcome communications difficulties caused by mountains, rough terrain, or distance. BACN provides critical information to all operational echelons, which increases situational awareness by correlating tactical and operational air and ground environments. 

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Air Canada's retro livery A220 making rare visit to St Johns today.

Air Canada's delightful retro livery adorned Airbus A220 jet is making a rare visit to St John's today as it operates flight AC678 from Montreal. 

The super-efficient twin jet is painted in the colours of the airline’s original name, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA).  It is a special livery that pays tribute to the airline’s heritage, which can be traced back to its founding in 1937. 

The special livered jet,  registration C- GNBN, has mainly been flying between Edmonton and Vancouver in recent times, with the odd rotation to Los Angeles and Toronto.

Designed and built in Quebec, the Airbus A220-300, formally known as the Bombardier CS300, is an integral part of Air Canada’s fleet modernization and each A220 includes parts from 30 companies that are based in or have activities in Canada, making this aircraft a true testament to the importance of the aviation sector in Canada.

However, C- GNBN is not the first aircraft to bear this special livery in modern times, the special TCA livery first appeared in August 1997 for the airlines 60th birthday on a brand-new Airbus A319 registration C-FZUH. Air Canada was then the first airline in North America to operate the A319 and was also the first one to operate the Airbus A220-300.  After nearly 24 years in the fleet, the A319 C-FZUH was retired from the fleet in January 2021.

Track the jet on flightradar24.

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SWISS takes its 30th A220 delivery concluding its fleet renewal

SWISS took delivery of its thirtieth new Airbus A220 at Zurich Airport this week to mark a further milestone in the biggest fleet renewal programme in its corporate history. SWISS was launching carrier and first operator of the new short- and medium-haul twinjet, which was designed and developed from scratch. The Airbus A220 emits over 20 per cent less carbon dioxide than comparable aircraft types. SWISS’s thirtieth A220, a ‑300 model with the registration HB-JCU, was named ‘Davos’ following its Zurich arrival.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) received its thirtieth new Airbus A220 (formerly known as the Bombardier C Series) at Zurich Airport at 21:00 on Monday evening. Aircraft HB-JCU, which is an A220-300, had flown directly from Airbus Canada’s Montreal Mirabel works. Its arrival concludes SWISS’s acquisition programme for this advanced short- and medium-haul twinjet with its lower carbon emission credentials.

“With today’s delivery of our thirtieth Airbus A220, we have marked another milestone in the biggest fleet renewal in the history of our company,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “We are proud to now have 30 of these innovative aircraft in our fleet ranks. The Airbus A220 helps give us one of Europe’s most advanced aircraft fleets,” he continues. “This in turn enables us to live up to our environmental responsibilities. And SWISS will continue to invest in advanced aircraft and technologies. To do so, though, we must be able to operate within parameters that allow us to maintain both a competitive edge and an investment capability.”

The most impressive moments of 5 years A220 fleet renewal

Bombardier delivered 26 business jets in the first quarter of 2021.....

The Canadian firm Bombardier has published its financial results for the first quarter of 2021 today, which show revenues from its business jets totalled $1.3 billion, an 18% year-on-year increase for the firm with total aircraft deliveries standing at 26 for the quarter.

Bombardier says its adjusted EBITDA for continuing operations in the quarter was $123 million, a 43% increase year-over-year, reflecting a favourable aircraft mix, progress on the Global 7500 aircraft learning curve, cost structure improvements and the divestitures of margin dilutive businesses. Adjusted EBIT for continuing operations was $29 million.

The business is still heavily in debt, however, following the sale of its transportation business, it has used $2.4 billion of available cash towards debt repayment, because of this it expects to reduce its annual cash interest costs by approximately $200 million versus its 2020, On February 19, 2021, Bombardier deployed $0.8 billion and completed the full repayment of its senior secured term loan with HPS Investment Partners, LLC. On April 19, 2021, Bombardier announced the expiration of its tender offer to purchase for cash certain of its outstanding Notes.

FAA and EASA Approve Viasat’s Ka-band In-Flight Connectivity System for Bombardier Challenger 300-Series Aircraft

Bombardier and global communications company Viasat Inc. are pleased to announce regulatory approval for the installation and use of Viasat’s Ka-band in-flight connectivity (IFC) business aviation system on in-service Challenger 300 and Challenger 350 aircraft, for their fastest available download speeds in the super midsize segment. This solution is also offered for new Challenger 350 business jets, further strengthening the aircraft’s winning combination of performance and cabin experience. Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) have been successfully received from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Viasat first announced it would bring enhanced cabin connectivity to Bombardier Challenger 300 and Challenger 350 business jets in July 2020. Regulatory approval clears the way for operators of those aircraft to have Viasat’s Ka-band Global Aero Terminal 5510 installed for a premier in-cabin internet experience over the most heavily travelled flight routes and regions. Installation of the Viasat system will be available at Bombardier’s worldwide network of service centres.

100th Global 7500 Business Jet Wing Manufactured in Texas

Canadian firm Bombardier confirmed the completion of the 100^th wing for its Global 7500 business jet at the company’s facility in Red Oak, Texas.  

The wing plays a significant role in the aircraft’s short-field capabilities and has helped the debt ridden company sell and deliver 50 aircraft.  "This is an important milestone for our Global 7500 program, and we are proud of our skilled team in Red Oak, Texas,” said Paul Sislian, Executive Vice President, Operations and Operational Excellence, Bombardier.

Since its entry-into-service in 2018, the Global 7500 business jet has demonstrated an outstanding dispatch reliability rate of 99.7% and has proven to be the highest-performing aircraft in the industry. It completed various key speed records and challenging flights, including the longest city-pair flown by a purpose-built business aircraft, connecting Sydney and Detroit non-stop.

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New order for 10 Challenger 350 business jets as demand sky rockets!

Arrival in Malta. Photo VistaJet International 

VistaJet, a global business aviation company has taken delivery of the first two of its Global 7500 aircraft, which is designed to open up longer non-stop routes for its customers.

VistaJet is the first company to provide a fleet of Global 7500 and expects to have a fleet of up to 12 aircraft arriving during the next two years.  

The firm has also ordered 10 new Challenger 350 planes, from long-standing partner Bombardier and the majority of which are expected to be delivered through 2022. These aircraft, VistaJet says, will help to meet the "growing and urgent demand from corporates and executives who are interested in the super-mid segment — VistaJet has seen a surge of nearly 50% in corporate interest globally since July 2020".  The Challenger 350 is seen as an integral part of VistaJet’s super-midsize range.

Increased demand sees VistaJet order 10 new Challenger 350 jets plus 2 Global 7500 aircraft are delivered

Arrival in Malta. Photo VistaJet International 

VistaJet, a global business aviation company has taken delivery of the first two of its Global 7500 aircraft, which is designed to open up longer non-stop routes for its customers.

VistaJet is the first company to provide a fleet of Global 7500 and expects to have a fleet of up to 12 aircraft arriving during the next two years.  

The firm has also ordered 10 new Challenger 350 planes, from long-standing partner Bombardier and the majority of which are expected to be delivered through 2022. These aircraft, VistaJet says, will help to meet the "growing and urgent demand from corporates and executives who are interested in the super-mid segment — VistaJet has seen a surge of nearly 50% in corporate interest globally since July 2020".  The Challenger 350 is seen as an integral part of VistaJet’s super-midsize range.

Bombardier Marks 50th Global 7500 Aircraft Delivery Milestone

Photo Matthias Geiger

 Global 7500 aircraft receiving positive market response for its unparalleled performance, innovative technology, unique cabin design and the smoothest ride

Global 7500 aircraft deliveries reaching steady run-rate as the company continues to swiftly progress through the program’s learning curve

Global 7500 in-service fleet demonstrating outstanding dispatch reliability rate of 99,7%

Global 7500 aircraft is the first business jet to have a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Bombardier announced this week that it delivered the 50th Global 7500 aircraft. The milestone delivery was achieved as production of the industry flagship continues to mature, and as the aircraft’s in-service performance continues to deliver very high levels of reliability.  

The 50th delivery of the Global 7500 business jet follows a successful 2020, where Bombardier delivered 35 of these aircraft, including a record 16 deliveries in Q4. Bombardier continues to receive strong interest for the Global 7500 business jet and order activity is robust worldwide. 

“The Global 7500 aircraft is unrivalled in the market,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier. “It provides an unmatched combination of speed, range, comfort and reliability, making it both the industry flagship and a key driver of our growth strategy. As we mark this delivery milestone, I want to recognize and thank the many talented employees who supported the development and launch of this aircraft, as well as those currently working on the program and supporting our customers in the field. The world-class calibre of workmanship and technology found in each aircraft continues to drive strong market demand and industry-wide recognition.”      

United Airlines adds 26 new routes between Midwest cities and popular summer getaway destinations in the South and New England

United Airlines  adding 26 new routes between Midwest cities and popular summer getaway destinations in the South and New England

 

In May, United will also resume more than 20 domestic routes and fly more than 100% of its pre-pandemic schedule to Latin America

The U.S. mega-carrier United Airlines has announced a raft of new routes it will introduce in time for the summer season.  The 26 new nonstop routes between Midwest cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati and Milwaukee and popular vacation destinations such as Hilton Head, Pensacola, and Portland, will start in May. The airline also plans to resume more than 20 domestic routes and will start a new service between Orange County and Honolulu.

Internationally, in May United will fly more than 100% of its pre-pandemic schedule to Latin America compared to what it operated in 2019, including more flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. The airline also plans to resume flights between Chicago and Tokyo Haneda, resume passenger flights between New York/Newark and Milan and Rome, and restart service between Chicago and Amsterdam. In total, United plans to operate 52% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019, whereas in May 2020 United, operated 14% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019.

"In the past few weeks, we have seen the strongest flight bookings since the start of the pandemic," said Ankit Gupta, vice president of United's domestic network planning and scheduling. "As we rebuild our schedule to meet that demand, adding in seasonal point-to-point flying is just one of the ways we are finding opportunities to add new and exciting service. And as we have done throughout the entire pandemic, we will continue being nimble and strategic with our network to add the right service to the destinations our customers want to visit."

Bombardier suffers data hack.

Canadian firm Bombardier confirmed today it has suffered a major breach in its cybersecurity whereby the personal and other confidential data relating to employees, customers and suppliers was hacked.

The firm says an initial investigation found out an 'unauthorized party' had not only accessed but also extracted data by exploiting a vulnerability affecting a third-party file-transfer application, which was running on purpose-built servers isolated from the main Bombardier IT network.

Upon discovery of the hack, Bombardier sought the services of cybersecurity and forensic professionals who provided external confirmation that the company’s security controls were effective in limiting the scope and extent of the incident. Bombardier also notified appropriate authorities, including law enforcement and will continue to work with the authorities as the investigation continues.

Bombardier has been proactively contacting customers and other external stakeholders whose data was potentially compromised. The ongoing investigation indicates that the unauthorized access was limited solely to data stored on the specific servers. 

Manufacturing and customer support operations have not been impacted or interrupted. Bombardier can also confirm the company was not specifically targeted—the vulnerability impacted multiple organizations using the application.

 Bombardier will continue to assess the situation and stay in close contact with its clients, suppliers and employees, as well as other stakeholders.

 

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Bombardier Reports Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Bombardier has just reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 results, provided guidance for 2021 and outlined a number of actions to drive profitability and productivity as the Company focuses exclusively on designing, building and servicing the world’s best business jets.

“With our strategic repositioning now complete, we are very excited to embark on our journey as a pure-play business jet company,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. “Our unmatched product portfolio, world-class customer services network, and incredibly talented employees give us a strong foundation to build upon. We are encouraged by our momentum in the fourth quarter and are confident in the actions we are taking to navigate through the pandemic and better position the Company for a market recovery.”

Overview 2020 Financial Performance

Revenues from Business Aircraft activities reached $5.6 billion in 2020, reflecting a 3% year-over-year improvement, driven by the ramp-up in Global 7500 deliveries, which reached a record 16 deliveries in the fourth quarter, partially offset by the significant impact of COVID-19 on other programs and services revenues.       

Adjusted full year EBITDA and adjusted EBIT(1)  for continuing operations of $200 million and $(211) million, respectively, reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on deliveries and services, as well as a lower contribution of early Global 7500 units. Reported EBIT of $0.9 billion reflects the accounting gains on disposals of the CRJ and aerostructures businesses.

Latitude 33 Aviation adds another Bombardier Challenger 350 Bizz Jet to its fleet

Bombardier and Latitude 33 Aviation have confirmed the delivery of a brand-new Challenger 350 business jet, which will be available for charter out of the U.S. West Coast. Latitude 33 Aviation, a private jet charter, executive jet management, and aircraft sales and acquisitions company based in California, will manage the Challenger 350 business jet out of San Diego on behalf of the aircraft owner. The aircraft will be available for charter starting in January 2021.

“The Challenger 350 business jet provides a spacious, comfortable and productive alternative to commercial travel, especially as passengers seek to avoid crowds,” said Peter Likoray, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, New Aircraft, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The iconic, market-leading Challenger 350 aircraft is a top choice among the most discerning travellers.”

Bombardier confirms sale of 10 Challenger 350 biz jets

Bombardier has confirmed an order for 10 Challenger 350 aircraft in a transaction valued at $267 million U.S., based on 2020 list prices, yet with discounts and reductions will be more like $240 million. Even at the discounted price tag, the order is a much-needed boost for the troubled Bombardier.

The Canadian firm has not disclosed the name of the customer at this stage, but the order of 10 aircraft is one of the largest bizjet orders of 2020. 

“This order highlights the tremendous value customers place on the unmatched capabilities of our aircraft,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. “Bombardier’s newly refreshed portfolio and growing service network position the company well to respond to growing interest in private aviation and the enhanced safety it provides.”

The Bombardier Challenger 350 aircraft holds the coveted title of best-selling super-midsize business jet since entering service six years ago, and continues to strengthen its position with performance enhancements and cabin upgrades. 

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Bombardier and Jetex Collaborate to Bring Game-changing FBO Experience to Singapore

Operators to enjoy seamless service from arrival to departure as part of Bombardier’s commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience

Bombardier is proud to collaborate with Jetex, an award-winning leader in executive aviation

Passengers at world-class private terminal at Seletar Aerospace Park to benefit from state-of-the-art trip planning and ground support

 

Bombardier and Jetex have joined forces to establish a world-class fixed-base operator (FBO) experience in Singapore, the two companies are pleased to announce.

Bombardier is in the midst of expanding capabilities and hangar space at its Singapore Service Centre at Seletar Aerospace Park to transform this facility into a high-capacity, one-stop-shop super centre, offering customers a full gamut of services required throughout an aircraft’s life.

Part of this major expansion is the introduction of Jetex’s world-class FBO and ground handling systems to provide operators and passengers with seamless service from arrival to departure as part of Bombardier’s commitment to offering an exceptional customer experience.

Bombardier rejigs senior management positions as it moves to become a "Pure-play" business jet company

The Canadian firm Bombardier has announced it has begun the process of streamlining its senior leadership team as it transitions to a pure-play business jet company. 

Whilst no-one is exactly sure what the definition of a 'pure-play' business jet company is, part of the process seems to be to simply cut costs - the firm is axing several leadership positions, the latest being  Bombardier Aviation's president, David Coleal who has departed the company.

Bombardier Aviation make key leadership appointments at its Tucson and Fort Lauderdale service facilities

Bombardier Aviation announced today key leadership appointments at its Tucson and Fort Lauderdale service facilities. The appointments are effective immediately.

Marc Beaudette transitions to lead the Fort Lauderdale Service Center

Bombardier taps Michel Menard as General Manager in Tucs

In last two years, Fort Lauderdale service center has completed more than 160 modifications; Tucson facility has accomplished more than 135 major inspections

Marc Beaudette, who previously led the Bombardier Tucson Service Center, has been appointed General Manager of the Fort Lauderdale facility and will continue in his success to further elevate the customer experience and drive the company’s customer-centric culture. With 30 years of experience at Bombardier, Marc has extensive knowledge of both production and maintenance operations and a vast understanding of interiors and completions. He will lead the eventual move from our Fort Lauderdale Service Center to our new state-of-the-art facility at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.

Bombardier Delivers First Global 7500 Aircraft Equipped with Dual Head-up Display (HUD)

One of many pilot-friendly features aboard the Global 7500 aircraft, dual HUD capability allows co-pilot to benefit from Enhanced and Synthetic vision for increased situational awareness

Flagship Global 7500 aircraft redefines what is possible on a business jet with numerous innovations and the industry’s most advanced flight deck

The Global 7500 aircraft boasts the longest range and the smoothest ride, and has demonstrated outstanding performance during its first 18 months in service

Bombardier is pleased to announce it has delivered the first Global 7500 aircraft equipped with a dual head-up display (HUD). This first-in-class capability provides additional safety and redundancy to what is already the most advanced and pilot-friendly cockpit in business aviation.

“The delivery of the first Global 7500 aircraft with a dual HUD showcases our outstanding commitment to safety,” said Michel Ouellette, Senior Vice President, Program Management and Engineering, Bombardier Aviation. “This cockpit is designed to put technology and automation at the service of the crew, rather than creating technology that the crew has to manage.”