Flexjet’s European presence increased with first Praetor 600 delivery

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Flexjet’s European fleet has taken delivery of its first Praetor 600, part of a $1.4bn order for Embraer Executive Jets. The company is the only shared ownership and fractional provider of the Praetor 600.

European MD Marine Eugène said: “Flexjet has taken the time to lay the groundwork to properly serve those entering the shared aircraft ownership market in Europe. Now that we have the infrastructure in place, we are growing our fleet with the addition of our new raetor 600 aircraft. The Praetor 600 will form part of our Red Label by Flexjet offering, bringing to European-based travellers a unique combination of innovative technology, luxury and premium service. Our objective is to give owners the ability to travel not just in North America but throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East without leaving the safety and security of the Flexjet family.”

Currently, 110 shared-ownership aircraft are providing more than 800,000 flight hours per year in Europe. In contrast, there are nearly 700 private aircraft supporting 1.2m flight hours annually in the US market. Flexjet has identified a gap in the European market underserved by existing flight providers hence the expansion in the region.

As the fleet launch customer for the Praetor 600, Flexjet will add the model to its existing European-based fleet of Embraer Legacy 500s and 600s. Announced by Embraer in 2018, the super-midsize Praetor 600 seats nine passengers plus a cabin attendant. Its short-field performance enables it to fly into small airports – including London City. The Praetor 600 is the farthest-flying super-midsize jet and has a range of more than 4,000 miles. One of the distinctive features of the 600 is the enlarged winglets, roughly six feet high, which contribute to the aircraft’s fuel efficiency.

“With private jet service recovering much faster than commercial aviation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s clear that travellers want to minimise their risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and private jets are a lower-risk way to fly in the Covid-19 era. That makes this the perfect time to bring both the versatile Praetor 600 and the Red Label experience to the European market,” said Flexjet CEO Michael Silvestro. “With Marine Eugène at the helm, we look forward to the continued growth and evolution of our European offering.”

Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets, added “Flexjet is the fleet launch customer for the Praetor aircraft, continuing a two-decade-long partnership with Embraer.”

 

Embraer Praetor 600’s enlarged winglet.

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