Air taxi operator Linear Air will use an additional $2.5 million in funding it received yesterday (5 January) to purchase 30 Eclipse Aviation 500 very light jets (VLJ).
The funding, from new and existing private investors, will be used to place initial deposits on the Eclipse 500s, which will be delivered from this year. Linear Air has secured early delivery slots for the manufacturer, which is taking orders for deliveries in 2008. It is unknown how Linear Air achieved this short cut.
"Linear Air's strategy with the VLJ market has given us credibility with investors and with Eclipse, which has recognised our success by putting us near the head of the line with our jet order," said William Herp, chief executive and president of Linear Air.
The company currently operates a mixed fleet of 36 corporate turboprops from bases in Bedford outside Boston, Massachussets; Teterboro, New Jersey; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Linear has expanded from a fleet of two aircraft in 2003 following an earlier funding round.
JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Source: Flight International
