Bombardier Aerospace to display latest jets at air show

A leading supplier of corporate and commercial aircraft to the Middle East, the company has delivered 33 Bombardier business jets to the region over the past five years, representing 27 per cent of the market share for this period. Bombardier also supports 65 current and out-of-production aircraft operated in the region by regional airlines, petroleum companies and other operators, as well as 94 in other African countries and 46 on the Indian subcontinent - including seven Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets operated by Air Sahara.

"We are optimistic about the opportunities for our regional jet and turboprop aircraft in the Middle East and Gulf region," said Barry MacKinnon, vice-president, marketing and airline analysis at Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft. "Airlines are looking at new business models such as the hub-and-spoke operations that have been so successful in North America and Europe. Such operations will require smaller, more efficient and more economical aircraft than the large jets in current Middle East airline fleets. Bombardier Aerospace is the only company with two complete families of regional jets and turboprops ranging from 37 to 86 seats. These aircraft have proven themselves in decades of cost-effective and reliable service in most parts of the world."

Two new Bombardier business jets will celebrate their Middle East debut at the show: the super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet, for which deliveries will begin before year-end; and the Bombardier Learjet 45 XR, an enhanced version of the popular Bombardier Learjet 45 super-light business jet, on track to enter service in Q1 2004.

Both aircraft are part of Bombardier's large static display, along with a Bombardier Global Express ultra long-range business jet, a Bombardier Challenger 604 intercontinental business jet, and a Bombardier Learjet 60 transcontinental business jet.

Bombardier has four new products entering into service within the next 14 months - the Bombardier Learjet 40, Learjet 45 XR, Challenger 300 and Global 5000 - to further strengthen its leadership position in business aircraft markets.

Bombardier Aerospace has a fully equipped chalet at the Dubai Air Show and will mount a display of its broad range of regional and business aircraft at an exhibit in the East Hall. In addition, TAG Aeronautics, Bombardier's exclusive representative and distributor in 22 Middle East and Arab countries for the Bombardier Challenger, Global and CRJ families, will also have a chalet at the show.