Fractional ownership and charter operator NetJets Europe will begin selling shares in Dassault Falcon 7X business jets by the end of the year, 12 months ahead of the first aircraft delivery in early 2008.
The Berkshire Hathaway-owned company last week placed a $1.1 billion order for 24 of the long- range business jets – a record order in dollar value for both the Lisbon, Portugal-based operator and the French airframer, now boasting an order tally of around 120 7Xs. The aircraft’s delivery schedule to NetJets will span six years.
NetJets Europe operates 15 Falcon types and is set to add another Falcon 2000EX to the fleet in December. “Demand is such that these aircraft were sold out prior to NetJets taking delivery,” says NetJets managing director Mark Booth. “The addition of the 24 Falcon 7Xs will consolidate NetJets’ long-range operation, as the new jets are capable of flying non-stop from London to Los Angeles or Edinburgh to Tokyo,” he adds.
NetJets Europe, launched 10 years ago, is the largest business jet operator in Europe with 112 aircraft and a customer base of more than 1,000 for its fractional and block charter card programmes.
NetJets says that it is working on pricing for the 7X fractional programme, but the entry point to the scheme will be a 16th share, equivalent to 50 occupied flying hours. Block charter cards for the 7X will be introduced as soon as the company has built a critical mass of around five aircraft. Robert Dranitzke, NetJets Europe business development manager, says: “Demand is likely to come from companies that need supplemental lift or very occasionally need to make a long-range flight.” A typical 7X share will be a 3/16th or a quarter, Drantizke says.
Source: Flight International
