GULFSTREAM SEES TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN BRAZIL
Jun 17
SÃO PAULO, June 2, 2011 — The number of Gulfstream aircraft in Brazil more than doubled between 2009 and 2010, solidifying the Latin American country as one of strongest in the world for business aviation in general and Gulfstream aircraft in particular.
Brazil’s Gulfstream fleet increased from 14 aircraft in 2009 to nearly 35 today. More than one-third of those are large-cabin aircraft.
“This reinforces the popularity of Gulfstream’s large-cabin, long-range products,” said Roger Sperry, regional senior vice president, International Sales, Gulfstream. “Large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft have been the region’s fastest growing because of the need for international travel. As the country’s economy expands and international trade increases, so, to, will the demand for long- and ultra-long-range aircraft with exceptional safety, reliability, range, speed and size. Gulfstream aircraft fit that profile.”
Gulfstream, which created the first purpose-built business aircraft, the Gulfstream I, in 1958, sold its first new airplane in Brazil in 2002. Since then, its presence in the region has steadily grown, from 58 aircraft in Latin America in December 2006 to 146 at the end of 2010, an increase of about 140 percent.
The company has 33 aircraft operating in Brazil today, representing around 6 percent of the country’s business-jet market. Within the large-cabin category, Gulfstream accounts for approximately 30 percent of the installed fleet in Brazil and 44 percent in Latin America.
“Thanks to its fast-growing worldwide economy and increasing international trade partnerships, the Brazilian market has considerable upward potential,” Sperry said.
Gulfstream aircraft are ideally suited to the varied missions of the Brazilian market. Its mid- and super mid-size products, such as the G150, G200 and G250, can easily handle missions within Latin America and beyond. The large-cabin, long-range products meet the requirements for international travel.
The G450, one of the most popular Gulfstream aircraft in Brazil, set a city-pair speed record between Savannah and São Paulo in 2010. The large-cabin, long-range aircraft completed the 3,922-nautical-mile flight in less than nine hours. The average cruise speed for the flight was Mach 0.80, with altitudes ranging from 41,000 to 45,000 feet.
Due in part to the long-range capabilities of its aircraft, Gulfstream has seen its sales shift from 60 percent North American to 70 percent international, since 2007, with much of the shift toward Brazil, Russia, India and China.
To support this growing international customer base, Gulfstream has a worldwide service presence with 44 facilities on six continents, including the service centers of its sister company, Jet Aviation.
Gulfstream has three authorized warranty line-service facilities in Latin America, Jet Aviation Brazil in Sorocaba, Aerovics, S.A. in Toluca, Mexico, and Aerocentro de Services, C.A. in Caracas, Venezuela. Four Gulfstream field service representatives are also assigned to the region.
The company has nearly $9 million in spare parts and materials stored with its consignment partner, Morro Vermelho Táxi Aéreo LTDA, at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo. That distribution center had an inventory of less than $5 million at the end of 2009. Globally, Gulfstream maintains a spare parts inventory of $1.2 billion.
“We are focused on strengthening the close and successful relationships we’ve established with our customers and providing them with the industry-leading service they’ve come to expect from Gulfstream,” Sperry said.
Gulfstream has routinely been named No. 1 in product support in surveys conducted by major industry trade publications.
Gulfstream News Release- June 2011