Bombardier executives have joined the chorus of optimism that seems to defy the headlines outside the confines of the Orange County Convention Center. In a briefing for the media and financial analysts Tuesday, Bombardier corner suite executives said that while some softening of the business aviation market will occur in the next year or two, the long-term prospects call for expansion and fleet replacement totaling 13,200 business jets, worth $300 billion over the next 10 years and the company expects to maintain or grow its 33 percent share of that revenue.
Guy Hachey, CEO of Bombardier Aerospace, said the company will continue to deliver strong financials and maintain or improve market share. He also said he’s adamant that the company address quality control and customer service issues. Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, said the company is constantly working on its product lineup, noting the introduction of the Learjet 85 at this show. He said the popularity of the lineup is a double-edged sword, with up to a 46-month backlog for Global Express models, long enough that some deals “have been left on the table” because the time lag is too long. James Hoblyn, president of customer services, said his focus is on streamlining parts inventory and delivery to maximize dispatch rates and minimize customer inconvenience. He said 18 recurring dispatch issues have been addressed and the dispatch rate of the fleet is now approaching 99.5 percent.
