Toronto, March 2 (IANS) Bombardier has announced the largest business aircraft sale in its history with Warren Buffett’s NetJets ordering 50 Global business jets with the options of buying additional 70 Global aircraft.
NetJets is the world’s largest business aircraft operator, with a fleet of over 800 aircraft worldwide.
The Montreal-based Bombardier said Tuesday the order is valued at approximately $2.8 billion. If additional Global aircraft are also bought, the order will surpass $6.7 billion.
Under the order, the corporate aircraft unit of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will get 30 Global 5000 Vision and Global Express XRS Vision aircraft, with their deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The deal also includes 20 newly launched Global 7000 and Global 8000 jets. The delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2017.
‘We are very proud to have NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, select the Bombardier Global aircraft family,’ said Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, in a statement.
‘The Global aircraft family offers the ultimate in performance, cabin comfort and technology. We are especially happy that NetJets shares our excitement in the Global aircraft family strategy, including our recently launched Global 7000 and Global 8000 jets,’ he added.
Jordan Hansell, president of NetJets, said: ‘We are very impressed with Bombardier’s product strategy and vision for the future.’
Global Express XRS, Global 7000 and Global 8000 are long-haul, faster and fuel-efficient jets, with a flying range of 9,630 km to 14,631 km.
(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)
