Business jet deliveries up by 1.4% in first nine months

The latest data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) shows that there was a slight increase in business jet deliveries in the third quarter of 2017 when compared to the same period last year.

Overall the industry delivered 138 aircraft during the period, a modest increase of one aircraft over the 137 aircraft delivered in the third quarter of 2016.

Highlights during the quarter include the continuing success of the Challenger 350, which saw 13 deliveries, as well as the Citation Latitude, which delivered in the same number.

At the smaller end of the scale, the Citation M2 just reached double digit deliveries for the first time this so far this year.

The battle for the light jet delivery crown swung back in Embraer’s favour, with nine Phenom 300s delivered versus the six HondaJets.

Gulfstream continued its dominance in large cabin business jet sector, with a mixture of 21 G450s, G550s and G650s delivered.

Overall, despite the lower quarter on quarter numbers, deliveries for the first nine months are up by 1.4%.

Two new aircraft types were originally due to begin deliveries before the end of 2017. Gulfstream was due to deliver a single G500 into its demonstration team, however, his will now take place in the first quarter of 2018. Gulfstream are keen to stress that this will not affect the first planned customer delivery in 2018.

Also due to deliver for the first time before the end of the year is the first Pilatus PC-24. Certification for the type is on-track, with the first customer aircraft for US fractional operator PlaneSense almost completed.

Both types will see their initial delivery push taking place next year and will have a positive impact on delivery numbers.

Whilst the Gulfstream G500 will replace the G450, the latter type’s delivery numbers has been in the low single figures for the last few year’s. The PC-24 as a completely new type should have the biggest impact on 2018s delivery numbers.