Bombardier signed a deal for two Global 5000 super-large business jets with the Execujet Aviation Group, and announced its regional distributor TAG Aeronautics as a customer for five of the aircraft.
Initially the Global 5000, which was unveiled last month, is being offered at $33 million "green", making the deals worth over $230 million to Bombardier. The manufacturer used the Dubai show to introduce its new product into the region where it claims it has 30% of the market.
After years of deliberation Bombardier and two of its partners, Execujet Middle East and the Alpha 55 group, are to open a service centre based at Dubai International Airport for all Bombardier business jet types.
They will spend $11 million on the first phase of the project. The 2,000m2 (21,500ft2) service centre has two bays and will be capable of housing two Global Expresses and two Challengers at the same time. It will also have an avionics workshop as well as other facilities.
Denzil White, Execujet Middle East managing director, says that the new centre, employing up to 50 people, will "significantly reduce the cost of operation for operators in the region" who until now have had to go to Johannesburg, Singapore or Zurich for Bombardier factory-approved servicing and spares.
During the show, Execujet Middle East took delivery of the first Bombardier Learjet 60 to be based in the region.
Source: Flight International
