Cessna Aircraft is expecting business jet deliveries to rebound slightly in a busy second half of the year that will include new product announcements.
Business jet deliveries for the Wichita-based manufacturer have slipped behind last year's pace through the first six months of the year, but the numbers should pick up through the second half, said Scott Donnelly, chief executive officer of Cessna parent Textron.
"We're still planning for full-year jet deliveries to be slightly higher than last year," Donnelly said.
Cessna so far has delivered 69 jets through 2 July, or five fewer than during the same period last year, according to Textron's second quarter results. To finish the year slightly ahead of last year's pace, Cessna must deliver more than 110 jets through December.
Meanwhile, the company expects to make a big impact at this year's NBAA convention in October. "We expect obviously we'll have a good show in terms of some new products," Donnelly said.
Cessna introduced the CJ4 light business jet last year, and intends to fly the Citation Ten super midsize jet by the end of this year.
Source: Flight International
