Gulfstream has sold a G600 large cabin long-range business jet to Egypt’s Cleopatra Group.
The Cairo-based conglomerate is already a long-term Gulfstream owner with a fleet two G550s, one GIV-SP and a G650. It also has second G650 on order.
The company plans to take delivery of the G600 in 2019 - shortly after its entry into service - and will use the twin-engined aircraft for employee transportation.
Cleopatra is one of the largest private ventures operating in Egypt and the Middle East. It began in 1983 as a ceramics manufacturer and has since expanded its portfolio to include businesses in the agriculture, media, tourism, mining, aviation and real estate industries.
“We have a wide range of Gulfstream products, and they all demonstrate the reliability, speed, range, comfort and efficiency necessary for the Cleopatra team to pursue our expanding business interests,” says Cleopatra group chairman, Mohamed M. Abou El Enein. “These technologically advanced aircraft have allowed us to grow the Cleopatra Group, connecting us with customers and business opportunities all around the world.”
The $54.5 million clean-sheet G600 was launched in October last year alongside its shorter-range stablemate, the G500. The $43.5 million 5,000nm-range G500 is being developed first, with certification and service entry planned for 2018. The G600 flight test programme will begin next year. “The first aircraft is being assembled and we hope to have it flying in 2016,” confirms Gulfstream senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, Scott Neal. Certification and service entry are expected in 2019.
Gulfstream will not disclose how many orders it has received for both types but Neal says the response to its newest models has been “overwhelming”. Qatar Executive is the other named customer for the G600. The private aviation wing of Qatar Airlines has an order for 30 Gulfstream types covering the G500 and G600 and top-of-the-range G650ER.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
