Airline News
Honeywell forecasts 9,200 new business jets through to 2025
November 20th 2015
As a slow growth economic environment takes hold across many global markets, the business aviation industry is not immune to its impact. Read More » In its 24th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell Aerospace has forecast up to 9,200 new business jets worth $270 billion would be delivered through to 2025, a 5% reduction over the value predicted in the firm’s 2014 update.
"While emerging markets like Brazil continue to be a bright spot for business aviation over the medium term, we have seen weaker demand across other key growth markets, which may affect near-term order and delivery levels," said Brian Sill, president of Honeywell’s business and general aviation arm. "And while the sluggish economic growth and political tensions are driving a more reserved approach to purchasing, we are seeing operators invest in retrofits and upgrades for their existing aircraft, especially around connectivity, boosting aftermarket opportunities."
Addressing the Asia-Pacific, Honeywell said disappointing economic data, ongoing regional tensions and government austerity initiatives dampened operator enthusiasm. Nevertheless, operators in the Asia Pacific have reported new acquisition plans for 14% of their fleet, up 2% from 2014, representing an approximately 4% share of global demand.
Meanwhile, Airbus Corporate Jets this week announced its customers and operators could now benefit from a wider range of computerised maintenance planning services, following an agreement concluded with CAMP.
The new service, “CAMP for ACJ”, brings CAMP’s expertise in computerised maintenance management services to the table, giving operators access to a single, integrated, solution available on any computer, smartphone or tablet with internet access. It does this by combining Airbus’ expertise in maintenance programme customisation and technical documentation with CAMP’s computerised aircraft maintenance management.
Competitor Boeing Business Jets on Monday announced four new orders for its BBJ MAX 8 - three to an undisclosed customer in the Middle East and another to an undisclosed buyer in Asia. "2015 has been a really strong year for Boeing Business Jets. We have sold seven aircraft and we are not done yet," said David Longridge, president, Boeing Business Jets. "The BBJ MAX is doing really well with nine orders already on the books for both BBJ MAX 8s and BBJ MAX 9s. The 737 MAX program is on track for first flight scheduled in early 2016."
Also on Monday, Embraer Executive Jets announced it would extend the range of the Legacy 450, its new mid-light jet, to 2,900nm (5,371km), an improvement of 325nm over previous specifications. The extended range would enable nonstop flights from San Francisco to Hawaii, New York to Los Angeles, and Riyadh to Cannes or Shanghai to Jakarta, Embraer said, adding the first Legacy 450 with the additional range was slated for delivery in third-quarter 2016.
In the interim, Gulfstream Aerospace has said development of its G500 and G600 jets was on schedule, but cautioned headwinds in emerging markets, including China, would cause flat sales growth in 2016.
Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, said the first G500 test plane was performing as expected and the program was on schedule for certification in 2017 and first delivery in 2018, adding the G600 test aircraft was currently being built and on schedule for delivery in 2019.
