Bombardier achieved a breakthrough sale for its new Global 7000 when Comlux The Aviation Group signed a contract for two of the ultra-long-range jets at last month's Middle East Business Aviation convention in Dubai. It was the first of two deals signed at the show by Bombardier, which left Dubai with at least $285 million in new business.

Comlux selected the new model with the Middle East uppermost in mind. The Global 7000 will allow the aircraft management and charter operator to fly passengers nonstop to the U.S. from its new regional base in Bahrain.
The Canadian airframer introduced its ultra-long-range Global 7000 and Global 8000 at the NBAA Convention in Atlanta in October. The newcomers are Bombardier's response to the challenge posed by Gulfstream's new large-cabin G650.

"It's fitting that we're here in Dubai for the new Globals," said Bob Horner, senior sales vice president with Bombardier Business Aircraft, at the Meba show. "We were honored to have Comlux endorse the Global 7000 and Global 8000 at the recent launch, and it is fitting that now, here at Meba, it is ratifying its order for two Global 7000 jets."

"The reason we picked [the Global 7000] is because I think it will fit with our fleet perfectly," said Comlux president Richard Gaona. "We have aircraft based in Bahrain, and it will [allow] us to fly nonstop from any place in the Middle East to America without any problem of range or cabin space."

The entry-into-service date for the Global 7000, the larger of the two new aircraft, is set for 2016. Comlux is scheduled to take delivery of its first aircraft that year and its second in 2017, the year the longer-range Global 8000 is set to enter service. Both aircraft are priced at $65 million in 2010 dollars.

With ranges of 7,300 nm and 7,900 nm respectively, the Global 7000 and 8000 represent an extension of Bombardier's Global line, currently consisting of the Global 5000 and Global XRS, which will remain in production.

"I really want to emphasize the family concept that Bombardier brings to the market," Horner said. "Bombardier's philosophy is a family of airplanes in each product group. So we have the Learjet family, we have the Challenger family and now we have a full Global family, and we're the only business jet manufacturer that offers that choice of aircraft and that range of aircraft."

Zurich-based Comlux currently operates a dozen Bombardier aircraft, and Gaona likened its Global XRSs to "a Swiss watch. Our flagship has flown more than 1,000 hours on charter without any problem."

The Global 7000 will feature a four-zone cabin with windows 80 percent larger than those of the Global XRS. "The real difference is that the 7000 has an additional cabin," Horner said. "It's the only purpose-built business jet that offers this size cabin at this range."