Bombardier Profits Beat on Repair Demand on Markedly Higher Private Jet Use
By Reuters | 30 Apr, 2026

Higher jet fuel prices didn't keep owners of the Canadian jet from flying more and incurring more repair and maintenance services.

Canadian business jet maker Bombardier on Thursday beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit, helped by robust demand for its repair and maintenance services and an increase in private flying despite higher jet fuel prices.

Bombardier revenue from services soared 25% year-on-year to $617 million due to strong demand for parts and maintenance of its expanding global jet fleet, especially in the U.S.

"Despite everything going on right now, the war with Iran and Ukraine, we see, you know, still growth in flight hours," Bombardier CEO Eric Martel told analysts.

Private aviation has largely remained resilient despite higher jet fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict that have led commercial airlines to trim flights. Usage by operators of Bombardier's large-cabin Global jets grew 8% during the first three months of 2026, compared with the same quarter last year, Martel said.

Private jetmakers including Bombardier and rival General Dynamics Gulfstream Aerospace continue to see strong global demand for planes led by the U.S., although order activity has slowed in the Middle East.

But planemakers are still wrestling with supply chain problems that have limited output and deliveries. Martel said the company faced a non-engine supply chain snag in the first quarter that affected the delivery of a handful of aircraft, although he added the issue has since been resolved.

Bombardier generated $360 million in free cash flow - a key metric watched by investors - during the quarter, its highest for a first quarter in nearly two decades. The free cash flow marked a swing from $304 million used in the year-ago quarter.

Bombardier raised its full-year 2026 free cash flow outlook to more than $1 billion, from a previous range of $600 million to $1 billion and it expects the second quarter to be free cash flow positive.

The Montreal-based company delivered 24 aircraft for the quarter, one more than in the same period last year, and reiterated plans to hand over more than 157 planes to customers this year.

Bombardier benefited from fresh orders for its recently certified Global 8000 ultra-long-range business jet.

On an adjusted basis, Bombardier earned $1.81 per share in the first quarter, compared with the average of analysts' estimates of 77 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company posted a 5% year-on-year rise in quarterly revenue of $1.6 billion, but came slightly below estimates of $1.64 billion.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Aatreyee Dasgupta in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Nick Zieminski)