Bombardier gets order for 20 business jets

MONTREAL

A Bombardier C-Series aircraft is displayed at the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Center February 18, 2016 - Reuters photo

Canadian aviation giant Bombardier announced on April 1 it has received an order for 20 of its Challenger 350 business jets valued at about $534 million.

The small twin-engine jet can carry up to nine passengers and fly as far as 6,000 kilometers on a single tank of fuel.

The Montreal-based company did not disclose the buyer.

Bombardier has been struggling recently in its first foray outside of business and regional passenger aircraft and into the category of medium-range, single aisle jets, with the launch of its new C Series jetliner.

The C Series is meant to go head to head with the workhorses of the aviation market, the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

But a lack of significant pre-sales forced the company to seek billions in government aid, while it cut thousands of jobs in order to conserve cash.

The first C Series jetliner is now expected to be delivered and go into service in June.