Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
Raytheon Travel Air, the fractional ownership unit of business aircraft manufacturer Raytheon, has ordered 27 more Raytheon Hawker Horizon super mid-size aircraft and more than doubled its Raytheon Premier I order. President Gary Hart says the North American enterprise could follow its fractional ownership competitors Executive Jet's NetJets and Bombardier's FlexJet into overseas markets as early as next year.
Deliveries of the new Hawker Horizons, valued at $425 million, will begin in 2002. The Raytheon Premier I order, increased from 22 to 49 aircraft, is valued at $250 million, with deliveries from 2001-4.
In its two-year existence, Raytheon Travel Air's inventory has grown to 47 aircraft despite keen competition. It operates 10 King Air B200 twin turboprops, 21 Beechjet 400As and 16 Hawker 800XPs and by year-end the fleet will grow to 56 aircraft with the addition of two King Airs, four Beechjets and three Hawkers.
With a further 55 Hawker 800XPs, 45 Beechjets and 23 King Airs arriving over the next five years, Travel Air will take delivery of nearly 200 aircraft worth $1.5 billion during that period. Despite retirements, the scheme will operate more than 180 aircraft in North America in 2004, says Hart.
The total number of aircraft operated could be much larger, however, should Travel Air expand overseas. Hart is exploring international opportunities, especially in Europe, Mexico and South America. "We are looking at possibly doing something in 2000," he says.
The Raytheon division has not ruled out aircraft from competitors to meet future ultra-long-range requirements.
"We feel the Horizon takes care of most of our needs. I haven't closed the door on other aircraft, but our present plan is to have an all-Raytheon product line," he says.
Source: Flight International