BlackBerry corporation This article is more than 10 years oldBlackBerry bought private jet two months before warning of 40% staff cut
This article is more than 10 years oldBosses at Canadian phone-maker took delivery of 19-seater jet in July, according to report based on aircraft registry recordsBlackBerry bosses bought a private jet worth more than $20m (£12.5m) two months before the firm announced a near $1bn loss and plans to lay off 4,500 staff.
The company, which has struggled to keep up with competition from Apple's iPhone and Google Android-powered devices, bought a secondhand Bombardier Global Express jet in July, according to the Wall Street Journal, which scrutinised Canadian aircraft registry records.
It is not known how much BlackBerry paid for the jet, which can carry up to 19 passengers, but similar planes are advertised for between $25m-$29m.
The aircraft was delivered to executives as the company was running at losses of more than $11 million-a-day. Last week the Canadian company said it lost between $930m-$955m in the three months to the end of August and warned its 12,700 staff that 40% of them will lose their jobs.
"Several years ago, the company bought two medium-range Dassault aircraft," BlackBerry said in a statement. "Earlier this year the company decided to sell both planes and replace them with one longer-range aircraft. The company considered several options and selected a used Bombardier aircraft, which was eventually delivered in July."
BlackBerry has now decided to sell the plane. "In light of the company's current business condition, the company has decided to sell that aircraft and will no longer own planes."
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