Product Overview
The Challenger 300 is a mid-size business jet offering long-range capabilities in a typical eight-passenger cabin and promising passenger comfort, performance, reliability, and good operating economics. In the 1990’s business jet manufacturers envisioned the super-midsize category and the Challenger 300 was Bombardiers response to that vision.
As of August 2018, 50% of the Challenger 300 aircraft were purchased pre-owned by their current owners, the other 50% new. 4.8% are for sale with the majority of those (82%) under an exclusive broker agreement. When for sale, the average time on the market is 149 days.
Brief History
The Challenger 300 was launched at the Paris Air Show on July 13, 1999, at which time it was called the Bombardier Continental. It was a clean sheet design assembled in Bombardier’s Learjet plant at Wichita Mid-Continent airport, Kansas. The jet was renamed in September 2002 after much debate about which category (Learjet, Challenger, or Global) the new aircraft fit into. FAA type certification was received in June 2003, with entry into service in January 2004. A total of 457 Challenger 300 aircraft were manufactured, 2 are retired and 1 is at the manufacturer.
Worldwide Appeal
There are 454 Challenger 300 aircraft in operation today. Most of these are wholly owned (412) with 9 in shared ownership and 33 in fractional ownership. 11% are currently leased. North America has the largest percentage of wholly owned Challenger 300 aircraft (84%), followed by Europe (8%). Flexjet has the largest fleet of Challenger 300 aircraft (32).