Bombardier Aerospace is another manufacturer celebrating the rapid growth of European business aviation, announcing that Zug, Switzerland-based VistaJet has added to its existing all-Bombardier fleet.

Proclaiming “exponential” growth in the two years since it was launched, VistaJet CEO Bing Chen said the latest order, for a further two Learjet 40XRs and a single Global Express XRS, brought total orders for Bombardier aircraft to 17 in the last 12 months. “We started with two pre-owned aircraft and since May 2006 have ordered two Learjet 40XRs, two 60XRs, two Challenger 300s, five Challenger 605s, three Challenger 850s and three Global Express XRSs,” he added.

Chen said VistaJet normally keeps its new aircraft a maximum of two or three years, flying an average of 1,100 to 1,200 hours a year. The company claims a “unique” business model in which it offers not only aircraft management and operation, but a financing service and brokerage as well.

On  May 1 the Canadian manufacturer released its 10-year baseline market forecast predicting deliveries of 9,950 corporate aircraft between 2007 to 2016 worth $227 billion against an average of 572 in the 1997 to 2006 period.

James Hoblyn, senior vice president for customer experience, said the European Bombardier fleet has seen a 68-percent increase in orders since 2000, to 339 aircraft. “As a result we have appointed our first customer support aircraft manager in Europe and are adding three more authorized service centers this year, bringing the total to 12.”