With a substantial rise in business jet production offsetting a drop in regional jet output, Bombardier managed to end its 2004-5 fiscal year with deliveries slightly up at 329 aircraft.
The Canadian company's 2004-5 financial results are not released until 31 March, but after losses in the first three quarters Bombardier Aerospace is expected to break even for the year on higher business jet deliveries.
Deliveries for the year ending 31 January included 128 business jets, up from 89 in the 2003-4 fiscal year; 214 CRJ regional jets, down from 232; and 22 Q-series regional turboprops, up from 18. One Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft was also delivered, down from three a year earlier.
Deliveries of the CRJ200 dropped from 152 in 2003-4 to 100, and are projected to fall to 54 for the 2005-6 fiscal year, as demand for 50-seat regional jets plummets. Output of the 70/86-seat CRJ700/900 edged up to 78, from 62 a year earlier, and is expected remain stable at around 77 for 2005-6.
A recovery in deliveries of the 70-seat Q400 regional turboprop, to 16 from nine a year earlier, helped offset a drop in Q100/200/300 output from nine to six for the 2004-5 fiscal year.
Business jet output was boosted by deliveries of the new Learjet 40, Challenger 300 and Global 5000, but the long-running Challenger 604 remained Bombardier's best-selling corporate aircraft, with 31 delivered, up from 24 a year earlier.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International