Echoing EBAA and NBAA about EBACE2007’s success, Cessna last week announced it took in commitments for 40 new Citation business jets at last month’s event in Geneva. The commitments for 40 new airframes include an order for 25 Citation business jets received from JetAlliance, announced on May 24; Cessna expects deposits to firm all 40 orders by the end of June. The company also took orders for three Model 208 Caravans and one Model 206 Stationair piston single. Cessna also said it is expanding its presence at this year’s Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, scheduled for next month. The company will bring its Citation CJ2+, Citation Encore+, Citation XLS and Citation Sovereign business jets; a Grand Caravan; a couple of piston singles; and a full-size cabin mock-up of its proposed Large Cabin Concept long-range business jet.
“The tremendous inflow of business we saw at EBACE is indicative of the strength of the market in Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe,” said Roger Whyte, Cessna senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “We saw interest, and took orders, throughout the range of business jets — from the Citation Mustang to the Citation X. This show continues to grow, and continues to bring in people who want to buy airplanes.” Whyte said the international market continues to expand, growing to almost half of Cessna’s 2006 worldwide deliveries, up from levels of around 25 to 30 percent just a few years ago. “We think the business jet is really proving its worth in the market throughout Europe and the Middle East,” Whyte said. “The range of Cessna products available to meet the demand, coupled with our ubiquitous support network, equals a tremendous value for our customers.” Cessna’s presence at the Paris Air Show will be in conjunction with fellow Textron companies Bell Helicopter, Textron Systems and E-Z-GO.
