AIREX 2000: Bombardier Aerospace Announces Key Jet Sale
to Dogus Air
MAY 26, 2000
ISTANBUL, TURKEY--Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Dogus
Hava Tasimaciligi A.S. (Dogus Air) of Istanbul, Turkey, has
purchased three business jet aircraft including a high speed, long
range Global Express(R) business jet.
The total value of the transaction is approximately $78 million
U.S. (Cdn.$116 million), representing Bombardier's largest single
aircraft sale to date in Turkey. Deliveries will begin in 2001.
Bombardier and Dogus Air officials finalized the sale during Airex
'2000, the international aerospace exhibition being held in
Istanbul. In addition to the Global Express, the sale includes a
transcontinental Learjet(R) 60 jet and a Challenger(R) 604
widebody business jet. The aircraft will replace older,
non-Bombardier products now being flown by Dogus Air.
It reflects a growing interest by Turkish business jet operators
in the Canadian manufacturer, now the world's third-largest
producer of civil aircraft. Working with TAG Aeronautics Ltd. -
its exclusive distributor for several products in the region -
Bombardier has enjoyed increasing success across the entire Middle
East and Gulf Region. Continued market interest in Turkey, in
particular, caps many months of work by TAG representatives.
Jack Crespin, board member of Dogus Holdings, stated that the new
Bombardier business jets will be used primarily by company
executives for transcontinental and worldwide missions.
"Bombardier jets offer superior performance at an economical price
and we have been extremely pleased with the company's aircraft,"
he said, adding that his company's growing aircraft and helicopter
fleet already includes two Challenger widebody business aircraft
"Bombardier offers a customized solution to our transportation
needs and we are looking forward to continuing to expand our
capabilities in partnership with the company." Mr. Crespin was
accompanied at the signing ceremony by Sukru Aydinarslan, Manager
of Dogus Air.
Dogus Air is a subsidiary of Dogus Holding, a large diversified
Turkish company active in the fields of banking, grocery
retailing, food processing, construction, hotels and aviation. It
also acts as the exclusive agent in Turkey for TAG Aeronautics
Ltd., the exclusive distributor of the Challenger, Global Express
and Canadair Regional Jet(R) airliner in 22 Middle East and Arab
countries.
"These sales reflect Bombardier's growing reputation in Turkey and
our deep commitment, together with TAG Aeronautics, to the entire
region," said Mike Cappuccitti, regional vice-president, sales,
Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, Bombardier
Aerospace, Business Aircraft. "We have been able to offer the
right types of aircraft to respond to Dogus Air's varied
transportation needs, because we offer the most complete family of
business jets available today."
Mr. Cappuccitti observed that this latest sale to Dogus Air comes
amid growing interest in Bombardier aircraft among commercial and
government customers in Turkey and neighboring countries. "We
have just delivered our first Learjet ever into customer service
in Egypt, we sold a number of Challenger aircraft in the Middle
East region last year, along with several of Global Express,
Learjet 60 and Continental aircraft, and are expecting another
good year in 2000."
The three aircraft purchased by Dogus Air include:
Bombardier Global Express: Bombardier's all-new business jet
offers the largest cabin of any true corporate aircraft, a top
cruise speed that reaches nearly the speed of sound and, at any
speed, the longest non-stop range in corporate aviation.
Depending on its configuration, the Global Express can carry up to
19 passengers. It flies up to 6,500 nautical miles (12,038 km)
non-stop with eight passengers and a crew of four, on routes such
as Istanbul to Los Angeles and Istanbul to Hong Kong. As of
mid-May, more than a dozen outfitted Global Express aircraft had
entered service and 38 aircraft were being furnished by Bombardier
authorized completion centres.
Challenger 604: The new generation Challenger 604 aircraft entered
corporate service in 1996, offering excellent value and the widest
cabin available. It has emerged as the top-selling business jet
in its class four years running. The Challenger aircraft typical
configuration can seat 9-12 passengers. It can fly up to 4,077
nautical miles (7,551 km) with five passengers and a crew of two.
The Challenger program has reached a milestone, the 500th aircraft
is heading for completion and is scheduled for customer delivery
in November.
Learjet 60: The Learjet 60 is the best-selling mid-size jet in
corporate aviation, with excellent transcontinental payload-range
capabilities, large cabin comfort and operating efficiency. The
typical configuration of the Learjet 60 can accommodate seven to
ten passengers. It can fly 2,600 nautical miles (4,841 km) with
four passengers and a crew of two on route such as Istanbul to
Karachi, Pakistan, and Istanbul to Reykjavik, Iceland, non-stop.
Bombardier is scheduled to deliver its 250th Learjet 60 aircraft
in January.
TAG Aeronautics, a subsidiary of the TAG Group S.A., is an
exclusive representative and distributor in 22 Middle East and
Arab countries for the Challenger(R) 604, Canadair Special
Edition*, the Bombardier Global Express, the Canadair Regional
Jet(R) and the new CRJ Series 700 airliner.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the world's
premier business, regional and amphibious aircraft manufacturer.
With full design and production capabilities in three countries,
it offers the most comprehensive families of turboprop and
regional jet aircraft and, the widest range of business jets. It
also provides the Flexjet fractional ownership program, technical
services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training for business,
regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, passenger railcars and motorized recreational products.
It is also a provider of financial services and asset management.
The Corporation employs 56,000 people in 12 countries in North
America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90 per cent of its
revenues are generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues for
its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2000, totalled Cdn$13.6 billion.
* Trademark of Bombardier Inc.
(R) Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. |
