BUSINESS FOCUS

摘要

CANADIAN BUSINESS jet manufacturer Bombardier will cease production of the iconic Learjet. The company announced the decision on February 11, when it revealed last year's financial results and plans to increase profitability. The final Learjet will roll off the line at Wichita, Kansas by the end of the year. Poor sales of the Learjet 75 and 70 (production of which ceased in 2016) in recent years cast doubts within the industry about the viability of the type, although the reorganisation of Bombardier as a 'pure' business aircraft producer seemed to indicate a potential future as the company's 'entry level' product. The Learjet 75 is the last variant in production, but failed to mirror the success of earlier variants. From mid-2019 Bombardier tried to reposition it in the market to compete with the Embraer Phenom 300 and Cessna 425 CitationJet models by introducing the Liberty variant. The Liberty had passenger capacity reduced by two to six to increase space/comfort and a list price of less than US$10m, down from US$13.8m. However, just 11 Learjets were handed over during 2020 and the need for the company to reduce debt meant a shift in emphasis towards the larger and more lucrative Challenger and Global business jet families. More than 3,000 Learjets in several distinct families have been produced. The original aircraft was conceived and developed by Bill Lear and entered production as the Model 23. Since it was introduced in 1963, Learjet became synonymous with the 'high life' and luxury, becoming familiar to a generation through its inclusion in the British rock band Pink Floyd's song 'Money' on the classic 1973 album 'Dark Side of the Moon'.