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Learjet, once synonymous with private jet travel for the super-rich and famous, will stop production this year.

Its owner Bombardier has seen sales decline among its wealthy customers who are now demanding bigger, more comfortable private aircraft to carry them around the world.

The Learjet, created by US inventor Bill Lear, allows up to eight people to travel in relative luxury, and was championed by the likes of Frank Sinatra, James Brown and Arnold Palmer.

Having first flown in 1963, Canadian manufacturer Bombardier said the Learjet would be discontinued to focus on its other business jet models, the Global and Challenger series.

"Learjet is iconic in that the very name was interchangeable with 'business jet' for decades," says Greg Waldron, Asia editor of aviation magazine FlightGlobal.