Gold Air International is First European Customer for
Bombardier Learjet 45 XR
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM-- FEBRUARY 11, 2003 - 12:42 EST
UK Charter Operator Orders Five New Aircraft
Gold Air International, the United Kingdom's leading executive
jet charter company, will expand its existing fleet with the
addition of five new Bombardier Learjet(R) 45 XR high-performance
business jet aircraft.
The firm order, valued at approximately US$55 million (33.435
million pounds sterling ; $83.5 million Cdn), is the second
contract between Gold Air and Bombardier Aerospace. The firm
currently operates five Bombardier Learjet 45 aircraft.
"This agreement with Gold Air is significant because it expands
upon the excellent relationship between our two companies and
represents the launch of the Bombardier Learjet 45 XR in Europe,"
stated Peter Edwards, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft.
"These new aircraft, capable of seating eight to nine passengers,
will strengthen Gold Air's position as one of the continent's
leading providers of jet charter service," he added. "Gold Air
is enjoying strong performance and dispatch reliability with its
Bombardier Learjet 45 fleet; the new Bombardier Learjet 45 XR,
with its enhanced payload-range capabilities, will deliver even
greater capacity and flexibility."
Gold Air expects to take delivery of the first of its five
Bombardier Learjet 45 XR aircraft in April 2004 and the final
delivery is anticipated to occur in mid-2005.
Declared David Gold, chairman, Gold Air International: "We pride
ourselves on providing our clients with the highest standards of
service and comfort. We do not settle for second-best and the
Bombardier Learjet 45 XR is the best of its breed. Our clients
already find our existing Bombardier Learjet 45 fleet to be one
of the most comfortable and convenient forms of air travel, which
makes us sure that the Bombardier Learjet 45 XR aircraft will be
outstanding additions to our fleet and will help Gold Air to
continue to go from strength to strength."
Introduced in July 2002 at the Farnborough Air Show, the
Bombardier Learjet 45 XR offers significantly improved
payload-range capabilities, increased flexibility, unmatched
time-to-climb, faster high-speed cruise, and significantly
reduced balanced field length at higher temperatures when
compared to the Bombardier Learjet 45. Designed to operate with
both full passenger load and full fuel, the Bombardier Learjet 45
XR is capable of operating at cruise speeds up to Mach 0.81 (534
mph; 859 km/hr). It has a maximum range of 2,098 nautical miles
(3,885 km).
Based on the Bombardier Learjet cabin and inspired by customer
feedback, the sleek Bombardier Learjet 45 XR interior offers a
dedicated eight-passenger standard configuration specifically
designed to provide superior comfort and functionality. Total
cabin volume, from cockpit divider to the end of the pressurized
compartment is 410 cubic feet (11.61 cu. m).
Gold Air International was founded by multi-millionaire
entrepreneur David Gold in 1997. Since then it has grown to
become the UK's leading executive charter jet company with bases
at London Biggin Hill, London Farnborough and London Stansted
airports. Gold Air is part of Gold Group International (GGI).
Other businesses either owned or co-owned by GGI include the
highly-successful retail chains Ann Summers and Knickerbox,
Birmingham City Football Club, and Sport Newspapers.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., designs and
manufactures innovative aviation products and provides services
for the regional, business and amphibious aircraft markets. It
also offers Bombardier Flexjet(R) fractional ownership, aircraft
charter and management, technical services, aircraft maintenance
and pilot training for business, regional airline and military
customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and services
company, is a world-leading manufacturer of business jets,
regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized
recreational products. It also provides financial services and
asset management in business areas aligned with its core
expertise. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, the Corporation has
a workforce of some 80,000 people in 24 countries throughout the
Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Its revenues for the fiscal
year ended Jan. 31, 2002 stood at $21.6 billion Cdn. Bombardier
trades on the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges
(BBD, BOM and BBDd.F).
(R) Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Note to Editors:
Images/Illustrations will be available on our Web site photo
gallery at 1 p.m. EST: www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F15.jsp |
