- Bombardier’s (TSX:BBD.B) Global 5500 business jet has entered into service, after being delivered to its first customer
- The aircraft has a flight range of 5,900 nautical miles, and has a top speed of Mach 0.90
- Interior completions for the Global 5000 and Global 5500 took place at Bombardier’s site in Wichita
- The company considers the jet’s successful entry-into-service to be a positive sign amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
- Bombardier (BBD.B) is down 3.37 per cent and is currently trading at C$0.43 per share
Bombardier’s (TSX:BBD.B) Global 5500 business jet has entered into service, after being delivered to its inaugural customer.
The 5500 is the latest addition to the company’s flagship family of large-cabin Global aircrafts. It has the longest flight range, largest cabin, and smoothest ride in its class thus far.
The Global 5500 has an impressive flight range of 5,900 nautical miles, or 10,928 kilometres. This is 700 nautical miles more than the nearest competitor at the same speed.
Such range would allow the jet to fly from Sao Paulo to Paris, or from Los Angeles to Moscow, non-stop. The aircraft also has a top speed of Mach 0.90.
Bombardier Aviation’s President, David Coleal, called the new aircraft the ultimate business tool.
“The first Global 5500 aircraft delivery is of particular significance for our employees in Wichita, who recently took on the meticulous work of interior completions for the Global 5000 and Global 5500 aircraft,” he said.
Bombardier’s site in Wichita has been manufacturing the company’s iconic Learjet for many years, and has since expanded its operations. In more recent years, Bombardier made the site a world-class service centre, a flight test centre, and Specialised Aircraft operations.
Bombardier has taken the jet’s entry-into-service as a positive sign, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, the company cut approximately 2,500 jobs from its workforce, due to COVID-19’s impacts on the aviation industry.
In today’s announcement, the company applauded the flexibility and dedication of its employees in the face of the pandemic.
“Bombardier has taken extraordinary steps to protect its employees and customers against the virus, and as manufacturing activities around the world, the company has strict protocols for continued safety and operational excellence.
“The successful entry-into-service- of the Global 5500 business jet at this time demonstrates Bombardier’s resilience and the efforts of its talented employees,” the company stated.
Bombardier (BBD.B) is down 3.37 per cent and is trading at C$0.43 per share at 11:35am EDT.