Bombardier CEO Optimistic Despite Decline in Deliveries

Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer, has reported that it delivered 176 business jets in fiscal year 2010, compared with 235 in the previous year. Its business jet deliveries for fiscal year 2011, meanwhile, are forecast to be 15 percent lower than in fiscal year 2010. Bombardier president and CEO Pierre Beaudoin expressed confidence about this year and next, however, saying profitability should be higher in the second half of this year as a result of a more favorable pricing environment, and order intake is likely to be higher as well. He added that pricing has stabilized and appears to be creeping up, although new aircraft sales aren't likely to show a healthy increase until buyers burn through the best of the current used aircraft inventory.