Bombardier fielded two of its brightest stars at yesterday’s press briefing, indicating that the company means business in the region. With delivery of the first Challenger 300 to Corporate Jets in Taiwan and expansion of its Skyjet International charter fleet by 30% and regional market share at 32%, the company is bullish about its prospects and says it enjoys the number one market position in Asia.David Dixon, regional vice-president sales, attributes a great deal of its success to having a local team and a long history of investment in corporate aviation in the region. He says: “We offer aircraft designed specifically to facilitate access to and from Asia such as the Global Express business jet and have established the region’s premier charter network with Skyjet International as well as working with giants like MHI in Japan and AIDC in Taiwan.”
Judith Moreton, managing director, Skyjet International, says: “25% of our customers come from outside the region and it’s important to remember the kind of people who fly on business aircraft are wheelers and dealers and help us by lobbying local governments, intervening on our behalf. It’s also important to remember that what is good for us is good for aviation in the region and it’s vital we all work together.”
She attributes the company’s phenomenal growth to a deliberate strategy of networking and investing in the region “Our experts have established relationships with industry representatives, regulatory authorities and leading charter operators in Asia-Pacific and have played a leading role in opening doors and fostering acceptance”
While the company is optimistic about the future, Dixon cautions that it is necessary to put today’s market in perspective - there are fewer business aircraft in the Asia Pacific region than there are in the whole of the Los Angeles area – there are currently 323 business jets in the region, 106 of which are Bombardier.
In addition to the Challenger 300, Bombardier is showcasing a Learjet 45XR, a Challenger 850 and a Global Express business jet as well as a full-scale mock-up of the projected CSeries aircraft.
Source: Flight Daily News