Bombardier’s Challenger 350 Aircraft Enters into Service with First Delivery to NetJets®

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June 27, 2014 New York

  • NetJets is the first customer in the world to receive the all-new Challenger 350 aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace

NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company and the worldwide leader in private aviation, together with Bombardier Aerospace, revealed today the first Signature Series™ Challenger 350 aircraft at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY. This event marked the official entry-into-service of the Challenger 350 aircraft. Bombardier Business Aircraft President Éric Martel presented the ceremonial keys to NetJets Chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell before unveiling the aircraft to employees and invited guests. NetJets is the worldwide launch customer for the Challenger 350 aircraft and will add eight of the jets to its fleet this year.

“The addition of the Challenger 350 aircraft to our fleet is a significant step in NetJets’ continued growth, and clearly demonstrates our commitment to provide NetJets customers with the most state-of-the-art aircraft models in the industry,” said Hansell. “This is the first of up to 200 Challenger 350 aircraft that we have on order from Bombardier over the next 10 years. We worked very closely with Bombardier to deliver an aircraft that exceeds our customers’ needs by providing the highest levels of safety, comfort and convenience.”

Beginning in 2010, NetJets placed orders with several aircraft manufacturer for up to 670 new state-of-the-art jets valued at up to $17.6 billion – the largest purchase in private aviation history. All of these new custom aircraft will be NetJets Signature Series™ jets. Thus far, NetJets has received 38 of the new models (including 13 of Bombardier’s Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft), with fractional sales exceeding deliveries.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the entry-into-service of our Challenger 350 aircraft with NetJets. This aircraft builds on the proven success of the Challenger 300 aircraft program, taking performance, efficiency and comfort to the next level,” said Martel. “Today’s celebration highlights the ongoing success we have partnering with NetJets, to ensure our products continually exceed our customers’ expectations,” he added.

In addition to Bombardier’s Global 5000, Global 6000 and Challenger 350 aircraft, NetJets will begin taking delivery of Bombardier’s Challenger 605 aircraft beginning next year.