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NetJets may be the largest private jet operator in the world, but its current turf in terms of where it draws customers is largely focused on the U.S. and Europe.
Now, according to a report in The National, a UAE-based newspaper, NetJets will open a regional sales office in Dubai in the first quarter of 2020.
A billion dollars here. A half-billion or so there. It is Las Vegas after all. As the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention kicks off here, Flexjet followed up its morning announcement it is buying $1.4 billion in private jets from Embraer by placing an order to be the North American launch customer for the Gulfstream G700.
(Updated Oct. 23, 2019: Flexjet’s order is for 16 G700s valued at $1.2 billion)
Flexjet’s chairman Kenn Ricci wasn’t the only CEO playing at the high stakes table. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, is buying 10 of the new ultra-long-range, ultra-fast private jets for his Qatar Executive charter division. It follows a billion-dollar order with the Savannah, Georgia-based manufacturer in July.
As it prepares its expansion into Europe, Directional Aviation’s Flexjet announced today it has placed a $1.4 billion firm order with Embraer Executive Jets for 64 of the Praetor mid-and super midsized aircraft and Phenom 300 light jets.
Embraer Executive Jets President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Amalfitano and Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro made the announcement at the 2019 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas.
Silvestro said the first Praetor 500 will enter its fleet in the next several weeks. He said Flexjet will announce at EBACE next year details on which aircraft will be based in Europe.
Vista Global’s VistaJet will put the first of six Bombardier Global 7500 ultra-long-range private jets into service starting in January 2020. Members of its Program, the private jet charter operator’s version of a jet card and alternative to fractional ownership, can start reserving flights as of today. The company has said it has orders and options for as many as 30 of the new jets.
Flexjet LLC last night marked the opening of Flexjet House, a global experience center and office in London’s Mayfair district, for what the company called “an integral step in Flexjet’s European expansion.”
At the same time, Flexjet announced Marine Eugène, former head of sales in Europe for NetJets, has joined its team as European Managing Director. Travel to, from and within Europe jumped 44% this year.
In a press release, it noted, “Eugène is among an increasing number of former NetJets executives deciding to join Flexjet in its reinvention of the private aviation industry.”
