End of an era: final Learjet delivered

On 28 March the end of an era was there as Bombardier delivered its final Learjet, ending a 59-year production run. The manufacturer announced on 11 February 2021 that it would end production. 

The final Learjet is a Learjet 75 Liberty and registered N2022L (75-154). It was delivered from the factory in Wichita (KS) to Northern Jet Management, which already operates a fleet of various Learjet models.

Since its entry into service back in 1963, over 3000 Learjets have been delivered worldwide in eleven models. From the Learjet 23 that started it all, until the Learjet 75 that marks the final deliveries. Since the merger with Bombardier back in 1990, the models of Learjet 31A, Learjet 35/36, Learjet 40/45 and Learjet 55/60 had heavy competition from Cessna and Embraer.

The cancelled Learjet 85 project that ran between 2007 and 2015 failed to deliver a platform to succeed the Learjet 60, causing various financial restraints and and less customers who were also drawn towards the CL-300 series. In a final effort to turn the cards in favour of the Learjets, the 70/75 series were launched in 2013 with the Liberty upgrade in 2019. These series have sold at least 156 airframes, including eleven in fiscal year 2020 and twelve in 2019. Last year, ten airplanes have been delivered over all. However, proftibality remained a challenge prompting Bombardier to decide to cease the Learjet-production.

Bombardier' focus will now be on the more profitable Challenger series (CL-350/CL-650) and Global series (Global 5500/6500/7500 and 8000).

Photo by Bombardier.