Flexjet is adding five aircraft to its seven-strong European fleet, including the first two Gulfstream G650s, and three Embraer Praetor 600s from the mega order the fractional operator placed with the Brazilian airframer in 2019.
Flexjet’s European line-up currently comprises four Praetor 600s and three of the type’s Legacy 500 predecessor.
Flexjet was the fleet launch customer for the smaller Praetor 500, taking its first delivery in December 2019, two months after announcing the order at the National Business Aviation Association convention.
The company already operates the G650 in its US fleet.
Directional Aviation-owned Flexjet is also moving its European operations centre from St Albans, near London, to Farnborough airport.
The company says it has seen an 180% year-on-year uptick in flight activity in Europe in the first four months of 2022. It has been hiring pilots, adding 33 European flightcrew since November last year.
“Demand for our services continues to be exceptionally strong,” says Flexjet’s European managing director Marine Eugene. “New programme sales and forward bookings are also very robust, so we are well-prepared for a busy summer and second half of the year.”
Meanwhile, Embraer also announced this morning that it has installed Ka-Band in Flexjet’s Legacy 500 fleet in Europe.
The retrofit is available on the manufacturer’s Legacy and Praetor families, and is also a factory option for the Praetor 500 and 600.
