Flexjet has exercised options for 20 additional Challenger 350 business jets from Bombardier Aerospace, bringing to 40 the number of firm orders Flexjet has placed for the midsized aircraft. Flexjet began taking deliveries of the specially outfitted Flexjet LXi version of the Challenger 350 in January 2015, part of an order placed with Bombardier in 2013 for Challenger and Learjet products. The Challenger 350 is the successor to Bombardier’s venerable Challenger 300, which has served as the backbone of the Flexjet fleet since the company’s founding 20 years ago.
Flexjet also has placed a firm order for 20 of Aerion Corp.’s AS2 aircraft, becoming the first fleet provider of private travel to commit to purchasing the first supersonic business jet. Flexjet will offer the world’s first publicly available supersonic transport since commercial airline supersonic crossings ended service in 2003. The Aerion AS2 business jet will have a top speed of Mach 1.5, which is 67% faster than the top cruise speeds of current or anticipated long-range subsonic jets. Carrying eight to 12 passengers, the AS2 will have an intercontinental-capable range of 4,750 nautical miles at supersonic speed, saving three hours across the Atlantic versus subsonic aircraft and more than six hours on longer trans-Pacific routes. The three-engine jet, now under development by Aerion in collaboration with Airbus Group, is expected to make its first flight in 2021 and enter service in 2023.
