Non-US orders at Gulfstream Aerospace increased to 55% in the first half of 2008, up 2% on the total for 2007, the first time in the company's 50-year history that international orders outpaced domestic sales.
According to Gulfstream president Joe Lombardo: "The distribution of orders around the world has been changing. Now, with more sales outside of the USA, we have to have a bigger emphasis on product support. We will continue to invest in our support business, especially internationally."
But, he adds: "I do want to make sure that we do not fail to underscore the value of the North American market. Gulfstream sold 121 airplanes in North America last year out of the grand total of 260. It is still a very strong market."
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Reflecting the previous dominance of domestic sales, about 70% of the installed Gulfstream fleet - over 1,600 aircraft in total - are in North America. But other regions are gaining share. The European Gulfstream fleet has more than doubled in six years, from 62 in 2002 to 139 today.
Today, Gulfstream has a $20 billion, five-year backlog. In 2005 it built 89 aircraft but has plans for 159 this year.
Separately, Lombardo says Gulfstream remains "very interested" in developing supersonic business jet technology. However, he quashed speculation that Gulfstream may be interested in reviving an earlier agreement with Sukhoi on its S-21 supersonic jet programme. Gulfstream, he says, "has no intention of going into a relationship in that area as a manufacturer".
Source: Flight International
