Fairchild Aerospace has signed a $760-million order from US fractional ownership company Flight Options for 25 Envoy 7 business jets.
The deal massively increases Fairchild's order book for the new Envoy 7, which stood at just three individual sales until the Flight Options coup.
Flight Options chairman Kenn Ricci says the Envoy 7, a corporate jet version of the Fairchild Aerospace 728JET regional jet, was selected because it offered more customer value than other jets in the same price range.
The first three aircraft will be delivered in 2002, after which deliveries will continue at five units a year.
Ricci says they will be used predominantly for long-haul, international routes.
The Envoy 7 will be the largest aircraft in Flight Options' fleet of 50. The company is head-quartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Standard
Fairchild chairman Carl Albert says the spacious cabin of the Envoy 7 "...sets a new standard of comfort in this price range", but he warns that the $30.5-million price tag may have to rise to accommodate extra frills.
At the moment, "...it is a little plain," he concedes. However, current Envoy 7 features include a conference room and bedroom with full bed.
Source: Flight Daily News
