IN AN EFFORT to stimulate sales of its Learjet 31A light business jet, Bombardier is offering purchasers access to the larger Learjet 60 when they have the occasional need for a longer-range aircraft. The programme, called LearjetOptions, is available to North American customers who purchase aircraft before 15 January, 1997. Bombardier's financial year closes on 31 January.
When a Learjet Options customer requires a larger aircraft, a mid-sized Learjet 60 will be available at short notice, probably from Bombardier's FlexJet fractional-ownership programme. "They have access to a larger aircraft to make their trips more convenient, eliminating the need to stop, fly commercially or charter an unknown aircraft," says Learjet.
Learjet Options is part of Bombardier's strategy to keep the Learjet 31A in its product line after it begins delivering the new Learjet 45 light/medium business jet in mid-1997. Additional near-term sales would also offset the loss of anticipated revenues resulting from delays in Learjet 45 deliveries, which were originally expected to begin by the end of 1996.
The company is now flight-testing six Learjet 45s and expects US certification during the first half of 1997. The 100th Learjet 45 order was recently logged with the sale of an aircraft to Helsinki, Finland-based Cloudex.
Source: Flight International
