LABACE NEWS
Aug 13
GULFSTREAM
On the eve of the Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, Gulfstream delivered a new large-cabin Gulfstream business jet into the Brazilian market, an indication of the company’s growing presence in the country and in Latin America.
Joe Lombardo, president of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., noted that Brazil has emerged as one of the strongest markets for business aviation in general and Gulfstream in particular. The growing economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) have helped buoy the company’s sales through the economic downturn in North America and Europe, he said.
“The market in Brazil is robust, the business culture is dynamic and more companies are discovering the flexibility and advantages provided by business aviation,” Lombardo said. “There is a growing need for long-range airplanes. That plays to Gulfstream’s strength in terms of its product line and has helped us remain healthy throughout the industry downturn.”
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 been steadily growing, from 49 aircraft in Latin America in December 2004 to 105 at the end of 2009.