The long-time fractional company has placed a firm order for four Global 8000 ultralong-range jets valued at $312 million. Additionally, it converted eight existing orders for Bombardier products, the OEM said. 

• READ MORE: Take a Look at Bombardier’s New Global 8000

“The new Global 8000 aircraft is the ultimate solution for NetJets’ discerning Owners, offering a truly seamless private aviation experience,” said Eric Martel, president and CEO, of Bombardier. “NetJets’ experience and expertise make them the ideal partner to unlock the full potential of this revolutionary Mach 0.94 business jet in a large fleet context. Our valued relationship continues to grow stronger, and we are proud to share this historic milestone together.”

This new commitment adds to the Global 7500s that NetJets already has on order and in service. The operator plans to expand the fleet to 24 Global 8000s, and at a point in the future upgrade the entire Global 7500 fleet to Global 8000s.

“The new Global 8000 will help us to continue offering our owners, specifically our international travelers, the pinnacle in unforgettably personalized experiences aboard the finest ultralong-range aircraft available,” said Patrick Gallagher, NetJets’ president of sales, marketing, and service.

• READ MORE: Bombardier Displays New Global 8000 Executive Interior

Bombardier also said NetJets could continue expanding its fleet through options that it has the right to exercise soon.

“With inventory sold out through 2023 in the U.S., we are continuing to invest in further expansion for prospective owners in North America and across the globe. In fact, by the end of 2023, we are proud to share that our worldwide fleet will be approximately 30 percent larger than it was at the beginning of 2022,” Gallagher said.

Bombardier introduced the long-range Global 8000 at the The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier this year. Currently, in flight testing, it has achieved its projected 8,000-nm range and a top speed of Mach 0.94. The Global 8000 is expected to enter the market in 2025.

• READ MORE: Bombardier Unveils Global 8000 Jet at EBACE

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It was a busy quarter for the company as the new super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 3500 entered into service and was delivered to a long-time customer.

• READ MORE: Bombardier Challenger 3500 Enters Service

Additionally, during the 2022 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando, Florida, Bombardier announced a three-zone cabin configuration for its Global 7500 and Global 8000. The Global 8000 is expected to enter the market in 2025 and is currently in flight testing. It is expected to have an 8,000-nm range and a top speed of Mach 0.94.

During the quarter, the OEM delivered 25 midsize and large jets, just two fewer than it did during the same period last year. For the nine-month period that ended September 30, Bombardier said it delivered 74 units, which is 82 fewer than it delivered last year. 

The backlog grew from $12 billion in December 2021 to $15 billion as of September this year, demonstrating a strong demand from travelers seeking more private travel solutions, according to the company. 

“With every passing month of airport and flight schedule disruption, business [aviation] travel becomes a more appealing option,” Éric Martel, president and CEO of Bombardier, told investors in August.

• READ MORE: Bombardier: Airport Delays Are Speeding Up Shift to Bizjet Travel

The company reported an improved balance sheet during the quarter, shrinking its adjusted losses to $2 million from $95 million a year ago. However, the OEM said supply chain challenges for parts and rising interest rates, inflation, and other things outside of its control affected its margins. However, it said its services revenue grew by $62 million compared to last year due to increased service center maintenance activity.

Earlier this week, the company opened its new service center at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (KOPF) in Miami-Dade County. Bombardier said in a statement that the 300,000-square-foot facility would quadruple its maintenance footprint in Florida and help transfer service center operations from Fort Lauderdale Opa Locka. Moreover, it will add close to 300 aerospace jobs in the community, including more than 225 highly skilled technicians. It is also capable of holding 18 Global 7500s.

• READ MORE: Most Aviation Businesses Aren’t Worried About a Recession, for Now

Looking ahead, the company said it would continue to monitor the predicted economic slowdown that has the potential to affect its business. However, it said it remains positioned for growth as it expects the business aviation sector to continue growing over the long term, driven by wealth creation and the new models coming to the market.

“We are well equipped to face any market condition ahead of us,” Martel said during the call.

The post Bombardier Shrinks Q3 Debt Amid Strong Aircraft Demand appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company announced the new cabin on Monday at the 2022 National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), in Orlando, Florida. The Executive Cabin features three workspaces: the Office Suite, the Conference Suite, and the C-Suite. The areas aim to enable collaboration, productivity, and networking, and each is 12 feet in length.

Within the configuration and seating options is the modular furnishing, the Nuage Cube. Nuage—which means “cloud” in French—in its cube expression is intended to float around and change form much like a cloud, perhaps transforming from a footrest to a table when deployed in flight. For takeoff and landing, the Nuage Cube will be stowed in a dedicated compartment. 

Those taking delivery of the Global 7500 and 8000 may also spec four living areas depending on their needs. The Nuage interior includes new seats as well, with independent side tables. The Conference Suite hosts a large credenza with a flip-up monitor for presentations and other gatherings in the space. 

The Global 8000 is in flight testing, proving its projected 8,000-nm range and top speed of Mach 0.94—test pilots have gone supersonic in the process of performing certification profiles, according to Bombardier. The Global 8000 is projected to enter the market in 2025.

Sustainable Efforts from Bombardier

With $6.5 billion in revenue, 14,700 employees, and 5,000 aircraft in service, Bombardier has weathered the combination of the pandemic and its own corporate machinations. Éric Martel, president and CEO of Bombardier, outlined the company’s recent realignment and growth in employment. “When we relaunched the company, service [has been] a major pillar of growth,” he said in the press conference at NBAA-BACE. “This year alone we added a million square-foot service center space.”

Those service facilities have opened in Singapore and Melbourne, Australia, with the facility in Biggin Hill, London (EGKB) opening later this fall. A fourth facility, at Miami’s Opa-Locka Airport (KOPF), will open on October 31.

Martel spoke of the company’s alignment with the industry’s sustainability goals, including the use of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its aircraft, now up to a 50 percent blend. It’s also seeking aerodynamic improvements to support reduced emissions, including its EcoJet, which utilizes a blended wing concept.

The post Bombardier Displays New Global 8000 Executive Interior appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Martel said the assessment was evidenced by the high utilization of business jets this year by his company, as well as its competitors.

Bombardier’s current book-to-bill of 1:8, worth $14.7 billion, is a clear measure of demand for business travel that remains strong, Martel said, and the ratio was one of the healthiest in terms of customer mix.

Airline travel this summer has been spotty as airlines have been caught flat-footed trying to keep up with customers because they say they can’t find enough pilots. This disruption has invited scrutiny from regulators who want to hold airlines accountable for inconveniencing passengers.

Fortunately for business jet manufacturers like Bombardier, this has encouraged customers looking for more schedule reliability to leverage their products.

“Demand for business aviation continues to grow to new members of the flying public,” Martel told investors. When analysts quizzed whether the pandemic rebound was the cause of the shift in business travel, Martel said the pandemic was only an accelerator.

“I often said that what was supposed to happen over seven to 10 years happened in two,” Martel said, as he explained the growing demand.

Martel: Customers Are Here To Stay

Moreover, he said he believes the customers are here to stay. Martel explained that even before the pandemic, there was a strong belief that there were more people who could’ve afforded to fly privately but didn’t, and even with the travel rebound, there’s still more room for growth.

It’s not all wealthy individuals buying airplanes, Martel clarified, but he explained that customers were also tapping into charter and on-demand services that have surged in activity because of the pandemic. “It’s been great for us because Bombardier is extremely well positioned with nearly all the fleet operators,” he said.

Bombardier said it delivered 28 aircraft during the second quarter, which generated $1.6 billion in revenue, and it expects to deliver more than 120 for all of 2022—all of which supports Martel’s assertion.

Global 8000 and Challenger 3500

During the quarter, the company also unveiled the Global 8000 at this year’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE), which it says will be the fastest, longest-range, purpose-built business jet on the market, with a range of 8,000 nm and a top speed of Mach 0.94, or about 627 knots. 

Bombardier hopes to enter the Global 8000 into service by 2025. 

Customers looking for something more immediate might opt for Bombardier’s new Challenger 3500 super-midsize jet that will begin deliveries nearing the end of the third quarter.

The post Bombardier: Airport Delays Are Speeding Up Shift to Bizjet Travel appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In case you’ve missed our coverage this week, here’s our one-stop shop to get you caught up.

Meet the Global 8000 Jet

Bombardier unveiled its Global 8000 aircraft Monday. The company says the new airplane—expected to enter service in 2025—will be the fastest, longest-range, purpose-built business jet on the market, with a range of 8,000 nm and a top speed of Mach 0.94, or about 627 knots.

“Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family,” said Éric Martel, Bombardier’s president and CEO. “The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era.”

• READ MORE: Bombardier Unveils Global 8000 Jet

To Combat Rising Fuel Prices, Avfuel Introduces FFP Plan

Avfuel, a global supplier of aviation fuel, announced a new Fixed Forward Pricing solution (FFP) on Monday. The option is part of the company’s Price Risk Management Program that’s been in place since 2020. Avfuel’s spokesperson, Muneeb Ahmed, said the FFP program would “offer customers a fixed price below current market values, saving customers money while providing stability.”

• READ MORE: Avfuel Offers New Fixed Forward Pricing Program

The STARS Come Out

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) announced the launch of the STARS program at the National Business Aviation Association’s European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) event in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. The program is dedicated to standards and training for aviation responsibility and sustainability.

It was started as a collaborative effort by young aviation professionals and aerospace companies to foster a more holistic and sustainable approach to aviation.

Some of the main focuses of STARS include:

• Voluntary carbon offsetting
• Emission monitoring and reporting
• Waste and water usage risk assessment
• Sustainability

• READ MORE: EBAA Young Ambassadors Introduce STARS Program at EBACE

EBAA Helps Members Manage Sanctions From Conflict

It might be hard to find a geographic sector more affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine than Europe. That’s the result of a combination of no-fly rules and economic sanctions that have impaired business aviation across the region, even as border restrictions weaken, and travel demand increases.

To help lessen the effect, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has been a key player in assisting foreign operators in navigating the crisis as best as possible.

• READ MORE: EBAA Helps BizAv Members Manage Sanctions as a Result of Ongoing War in Ukraine

Lilium Gets Motor Partners

U.S.-based Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Japan-based Denso have formally launched a partnership to develop a motor for Lilium’s (NASDAQ: LILM) electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, currently undergoing flight testing in Spain.

The partnership, revealed Monday, comes three months after Lilium revealed it would reduce the number of ducted fan propulsors in its Lilium Jet eVTOL from 36 to 30. 

• READ MORE: Japan’s Denso and Honeywell Partner on Lilium eVTOL

Gogo Going Global

Gogo Business Aviation, a broadband services company, said it will launch the first global broadband service in business aviation to use an electronically steered antenna, or ESA, on a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network.

The company, which made the announcement Monday at EBACE, says its antenna, designed with Hughes Network Systems LLC, will be small enough to be installed on the airplane’s fuselage for a range of business aircraft “from super light jets and large turboprops to ultralong-range jets.” 

• READ MORE: Gogo Business Aviation Plans New Broadband Service

Eco-Pulse Has Its Power

Based on Daher’s proven TBM airframe, the Eco-Pulse hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator has been powered up in Tarbes, France, according to Daher CEO Didier Kayat. 

“In taking bold steps to decarbonize airplanes, we need to evolve the way we build them—applying innovative materials and rethinking their industrialization—while also decarbonizing the entire process that leads to the aircraft manufacturers’ assembly lines,” said Kayat. 

• READ MORE: Eco-Pulse Aircraft Headlines Daher’s Sustainability Initiatives

Dassault Gives Progress Updates

On Sunday, Dassault announced the kickoff of a “proving campaign” for the 6X, now that its initial flight-test program has concluded—including cold-soak tests, high-elevation tests, and expansion of the flight envelope beyond the projected Mach 0.90 M_MO. 

The 10X remains on track for entry into service in late 2025. The company has begun construction of facilities to serve the Asia and Middle East markets with the 6X and 10X, to accommodate the new jets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Dubai.

• READ MORE: Dassault Updates on 6X, 10X Programs

The post ICYMI: The Top Stories from EBACE appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company says the new airplane—expected to enter service in 2025—will be the fastest, longest-range, purpose-built business jet on the market, with a range of 8,000 nm and a top speed of Mach 0.94, or about 627 knots.

• SEE MORE: Global 8000 Photo Gallery

“Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family,” said Éric Martel, Bombardier’s president and CEO. “The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era.”

The Montreal-based company says the Global 8000’s range and short-field performance will mean “even more exclusive city pairs” will be achievable, including Dubai to Houston, Singapore to Los Angeles, London to Perth, and others.

Bombardier also says the new jet’s cabin altitude of 2,900 feet while flying at 41,000 feet will be the lowest in its class, which could be of particular interest to passengers as well as pilots in stemming off fatigue. Among the interior options is the Principal Suite that features a full-size bed and stand-up shower. The flight deck is built around the Bombardier Vision integrated avionics suite and next-generation fly-by-wire control system.

The 8000 was developed in part from a Global 7500 test aircraft that last year repeatedly exceeded the speed of sound, which the company said was “a key step” in enabling the new jet to operate at its top speed of Mach 0.94. The test flight also marked the first time a transport-category aircraft has flown supersonic using sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, Bombardier said.

The company says current operators of the company’s Global 7500 models will be able to retrofit their aircraft with the 8000’s performance enhancements when the new aircraft enters service.

The post Bombardier Unveils Global 8000 Jet at EBACE appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Here are some images of the new aircraft:

The available Principal Suite also features a full-size bed. [Courtesy: Bombardier]

The post Take a Look at Bombardier’s New Global 8000 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.