Manufacturer targets corporate market by offering nine interior configurations of three regional jet variants
Bombardier has launched a concerted attack on the corporate shuttle market, unveiling three variants of the CRJ regional jet in a total of nine interior configurations seating from 27 to 90 passengers.
The company sees a burgeoning demand for shuttles with the increasing inconvenience of commercial air travel, and hopes to sell up to eight to 10 aircraft a year. The expanded shuttle family comprises the Challenger 850, based on the 50-seat CRJ200LR; the Challenger 870 version of the 70-seat CRJ700LR; and the Challenger 890 variant of the 90-seat CRJ900LR.
Bombardier is aiming initially at the replacement market among operators of the 121 turbofan-powered aircraft already in shuttle service, and companies with multi-site and/or remote operations away from hubs or large capital projects, such as construction, that require the daily or weekly transport of groups of 20 or more employees.
"We are confident there is enough demand for aircraft to launch a full shuttle programme," says Scott White, Challenger family product planning manager. The shuttle family fills a gap in Bombardier's product line between the regional airline, Skyjet charter and jet card and Flexjet fractional markets and the traditional business jet sector, he says.
The company has set up a dedicated team to sell and support corporate shuttles and provide the customer service the sector demands. "The shuttle market uses regional aircraft, but their operation is closer to business jets," says White.
Each of the three aircraft is available in three interior configurations: standard, deluxe and split cabin. Standard is a minimum change from the four-abreast regional configuration; deluxe is three-abreast, all business-class seating; and split provides two-abreast executive seating up front and an airline-style cabin at the rear. The Challenger 850 seats 50 in standard, 27 in deluxe and six plus 26 in split configuration; the 870 seats 70 in standard, 42 in deluxe and eight plus 36 in split; and the 890 seats 90 in standard, 52 in deluxe and 12 plus 40 in split.
White says the split configuration is proving the most popular, with the Challenger 870 providing two four-seat executive cabins separated by a removable bulkhead and the 890 three such cabins. The corporate shuttles have a higher level of standard equipment than the regional airliners, extended warranty coverage and inclusive training, and are intended for 1,500h a year of operation, compared with 500h for a typical business jet. Average price for the Challenger 850 is $25.2 million, $30.9 million for the 870 and $33.8 million for the 890.
The company, which has delivered 21 corporate versions of the 50-seat CRJ since 1993, has a number of CRJ700s undergoing completion as Challenger 870s, with 850s "on the horizon" and "nothing yet" on the 890, which is being aimed at operators of under-utilised Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
