A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Founded by inventor and entrepreneur J. Armand Bombardier in 1942, the company has grown to become an international powerhouse in its business segments, with operations located throughout the world. Today, Bombardier is listed among the Fortune Global 500 and Forbes Global1000 rankings.
Bombardier is the third largest civil aircraft manufacturer in the world, exceeded in size only by Boeing Co. and Airbus, and the company is the number-one global revenue leader in the manufacture and sales of business jets.
Bombardier’s history of marketplace dominance in business jets – which includes the company’s Global, Challenger and Learjet model lines – is exemplified by its unprecedented number of successful new aircraft development programs in the past 20 years. Global, Challenger and Learjet aircraft continue to push the envelope, achieving a wide range of best-in-class performance metrics. They are arguably the most prestigious brands in private aviation. Learjet – the “original” business jet which literally defined this new category when it first took flight in 1963 – has maintained its edge for 45 years, delighting owners, pilots and passengers alike with outstanding performance, comfort, technology and styling.
In addition to corporate aviation, Bombardier Aerospace is pre-eminent in the manufacture of regional airliners and commuter aircraft, having acquired Canadair and de Havilland in the 1980s, and growing those enterprises in the insuing decades. Bombardier also manufactures specialty aircraft such as amphibious water bombers. The company maintains aircraft maintenance service facilities throughout the world and a complete range of pilot and maintenance training programs, and state-of-the-art pilot training centers.
Along with whole aircraft sales and service, Bombardier offers the Flexjet fractional jet ownership program, and jet cards and on-demand travel services provided by Bombardier Skyjet.
Based near Dallas in Richardson, Texas, Skyjet was founded in 1997 to fill a need in the marketplace at the time – the need to efficiently arrange for privately chartered business jets, for customers anywhere and at any time. Skyjet utilized state-of-the-art technology to help transform the market, which previously operated mainly by fax, phone and white boards. Skyjet was awarded a US patent for its booking engine technology, which helped match supply and demand in a way that previously had not been done. Skyjet then went on to develop unique programs for frequent customers, including the Skyjet Card, and has been at the forefront of developments in the jet card segment. Acquired by Bombardier in 2000, Skyjet was able to take advantage of synergies within the Bombardier family of companies. In addition, UK-based Skyjet International was created to provide similar services to customers throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East. While numerous companies have following Skyjet into the private jet travel segment, Skyjet remains an innovator and continues to raise the bar in upholding high standards for operator safety and service excellence.