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The Bombardier Challenger 3500, an upscale variant of the Challenger 350 business jet, shown under construction in Montreal in 2023.CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/Reuters
Bombardier BBD-B-T said on Wednesday that Dubai-based private jet provider Vista Global has placed an order worth US$1.18-billion ($1.59-billion) for 40 Challenger 3500 business jets.
The order includes options for an additional 120 planes, which would bring the total value of all 160 aircraft to about US$4.72-billion, Bombardier said.
The deal comes amid sustained demand for private flying, which is swelling business jet makers’ order books.
Challenger 3500 is an upscaled variant of Bombardier’s Challenger 350 business jet and seats up to 10 passengers.
Bombardier to buy U.S. jet service provider amid White House threats to decertify planes
Bombardier, which reported an 11-per-cent rise in third-quarter revenue in November last year, is considering raising production of private jets. Customer demand for aftermarket care of jets is also growing, leading to service expansion in the U.S.
The Montreal-based company’s shares have risen over 211-per-cent in the last year.
Bombardier recently came under fire from U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to decertify its business jets, over Ottawa’s lengthy certification of jets produced by U.S. rival Gulfstream.
However, that dispute seems to be at its end, with the head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration saying on Tuesday he expected Canada to certify some Gulfstream business jets that had been delayed for years.
