Business & GA

NetJets Europe yesterday signed Europe's largest business aviation order, sealing a deal with Dassault for 24 ultra-long range 7X business jets.

The $1.1 billion contract, revealed in last week's Flight International magazine, is the largest private jet sale for Dassault the second largest ever placed for executive aircraft. The 24 aircraft will be delivered over six years from the first quarter of 2008.

Mark Booth, chairman and chief executive of NetJets Europe, says: “The size of this order clearly demonstrates the significant demand for our product, which has effectively revolutionised travel on this continent. That makes us very happy indeed”.

The deal shows the maturity of the European market, says NetJets, with sufficient demand among the continent's business travellers for business charter from Europe to South East Asia with the 11,000km (5,950nm) range of the 7X.

Dassault says that with more than 90 7Xes already ordered, the earliest delivery slot is now the second half of 2010. NetJets Europe's business has grown by over 1,250% since 2002, when it had just 89 customers and 14 jets in Europe.