Bombardier Aerospace has claimed 90% of the fast-growing market for business aircraft in the People's Republic of China.
At the show today, the Canadian company will announce the delivery of the third of five Canadair Corporate JetLiner aircraft ordered by China United Airways.
The JetLiner - a corporate variant of the 50-seater RJ (regional jet) - is part of the $116-million order signed early in 1997. The order included all interior completion, aircraft painting, pilot and maintenance training and spares provisioning and is the largest order ever placed for corporate aircraft by China.
A fourth JetLiner is due for delivery next month.
There are currently 62 Bombardier corporate aircraft in operation in the Asia-Pacific region with 46 Learjet and 13 Challenger aircraft as well as the three JetLiners. These numbers will increase rapidly as aircraft currently in completion enter service.
There are believed to be a number of Chinese customers for Bombardier's two all-new business jets, the Learjet 45 and Global Express.
It is not just China that has been snapping up Bombardier aircraft. Following the company's decision to open a regional sales headquarters in Hong Kong, a parts distribution centre in Singapore and a permanent base in Beijing, there have been a number of orders.
Learjet 45 orders have been booked from Japan and the Philippines. Singapore Airways has ordered four Learjet 45s to replace its Learjet 31 aircraft.
Global Aviation of Singapore, which is working with Bombardier on a specialist Asian charter service, has ordered two Challenger 604 business jets which will enter service later this year.
Source: Flight Daily News
