2016-05-23

Bombardier Confirms Flexjet as Previously Undisclosed Buyer of 20 Challenger 350 Aircraft

  • Strong demand driving Flexjet fleet expansion
  • Flexjet has ordered a total of 40 Challenger 350 aircraft to date

Bombardier confirmed today that Flexjet, LLC is the previously undisclosed customer that purchased 20 Challenger 350 jets. Bombardier and Flexjet, LLC celebrated the news with a special ceremony at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. The order, announced on April 1, 2016, is valued at approximately $534 million US, based on the 2016 list prices for standard-equipped aircraft.
“We congratulate Flexjet on the continued growth and expansion of their fleet, and we appreciate the enthusiastic reception that Flexjet and its Owners have given our Challenger 350 aircraft,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The top-selling Challenger 350 aircraft has a superb track record and enjoys worldwide acceptance based on its reliability, value, and superior wide-body comfort. The Challenger 350 business jet is the backbone of the Flexjet fleet and will contribute to Flexjet’s success for many years to come.”

Bombardier began deliveries of Challenger 350 aircraft to Flexjet in January 2015, and the aircraft was met with strong demand from the start.
“The Challenger 350 jet and its predecessor, the Challenger 300, proved to be our bestseller in 2015,” said Michael Silvestro, Flexjet’s Chief Executive Officer. “Flexjet is in the business of providing travelers access to the world’s most luxurious fleet of private jets, and this extraordinarily capable and comfortable aircraft holds tremendous appeal for our Owners and has been an important driver in the impressive growth Flexjet has been experiencing lately.”

Challenger 350 aircraft: The Challenger 350 jet boasts class-defining performance, a true seats full, tanks full, 3,200 nm (5,926 km) range and will connect New York City with London*. Building upon the legendary segment-defining Challenger 300 jet, it features a state-of-the-art cabin that maximizes natural light and redefines the man-machine interface, all the while maintaining the performance attributes that have become synonymous with the Challenger aircraft family.

About Flexjet

Flexjet first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in May 2015. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing. Flexjet’s fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, and Flexjet is the first and only company to be honoured with its 17th FAA Diamond Award for Excellence.

Flexjet’s fractional program fields some of the youngest aircraft in the fractional jet industry, with an average age of approximately six years.

Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit  www.flexjet.com or follow us on Twitter  @Flexjet.

Flexjet, Nicholas Parmelee, The Hubbell Group, Inc., + 1 781-878-8882,  nparmelee@hubbellgroup.com

*Under certain operating conditions.
Bombardier, Challenger, Challenger 300, Challenger 350 and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

About Bombardier

Bombardier (BBD-B.TO) and its subsidiaries (Bombardier Group), is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing, and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardier’s Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance, and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of more than 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments, and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in government and military special-mission roles leveraging Bombardier Defense’s proven expertise.

Bombardier is headquartered in Greater Montréal, Québec, and through the Bombardier Group, operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Bombardier Group’s robust customer support network services the Learjet, Challenger and Global families of aircraft, and includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China and Australia. For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Environmental, Social and Governance report, as well as the company’s plans to cover all its flight operations with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) utilizing the Book and Claim system visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on X @Bombardier.