Flexjet ploughs on with European expansion with first Embraer Praetor 600

Flexjet Ltd. has accepted delivery of the first Praetor 600 aircraft in its European-based fleet, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the company’s global business. 

Flexjet is the only shared-ownership/fractional provider of the Praetor 600, part of a US$1.4 billion order for Embraer Executive Jets,  that was announced in October 2019.

European Managing Director Marine Eugène leads the team headquartered at Flexjet House in Mayfair, London. It also has its European Tactical Control Centre in the United Kingdom to coordinate flight logistics, while the firm has a maintenance facility in Milan 

“Flexjet has taken the time to lay the groundwork to properly serve those entering the shared aircraft ownership market in Europe,” said Eugène. “Now that we have the infrastructure in place, we are growing our fleet with the addition of our new Praetor 600 aircraft. The Praetor 600 will form part of our Red Label by Flexjet offering, bringing to European-based travelers a unique combination of innovative technology, luxury and premium service. Our objective is to give Owners the ability to travel not just in North America but throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East without leaving the safety and security of the Flexjet family.”

Currently, only 110 shared-ownership aircraft are providing more than 800,000 flight hours per year in Europe. In contrast, there are nearly 700 private aircraft supporting 1.2 million flight hours annually in the U.S. With its growing presence in Europe, Flexjet intends to meet the needs of a European market, underserved by existing flight providers, offering the personalized levels of service, consistency and attention to detail for which Flexjet is known.

The Praetor 600 will be part of the premium Red Label by Flexjet programme. The only offering of its kind, Red Label by Flexjet features flight crews assigned to a single, specific aircraft, custom cabin interiors and the youngest fleet in the industry as well as innovations established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the fleet launch customer for the Praetor 600, Flexjet will add it to its existing European-based fleet of Embraer Legacy 500s and 600s. Announced by Embraer in 2018, the super-midsize Praetor 600 seats nine passengers plus a cabin server and offers class-leading capabilities that make it ideal for both business and leisure use. Its exceptional short-field performance enables it to fly into small airports – including London City (EGLC) – which reduces transit time both to businesses in city centers and to remote vacation locations. The Praetor 600 is the farthest-flying super-midsize jet in the world and has a range of more than 4,000 miles, making it easy to fly without stops from Paris to New York or London to Dubai.

In addition, the Praetor 600 is equipped with unparalleled high-speed satellite Wi-Fi connectivity and an industry-first touchscreen Upper Tech Panel that puts flight information and cabin controls at the passenger’s fingertips. In the cockpit, the Praetor 600 is the first super-midsize jet with full fly-by-wire technology, which powers the Active Turbulence Reduction that not only makes every flight the smoothest but also the most efficient possible. One of the distinctive features of the Praetor 600 is the enlarged winglets, roughly six feet high, which contribute to the aircraft’s fuel efficiency.

The aircraft air quality management system is comprehensive, with the ability to move 100 percent fresh air through the cabin and an additional HEPA filter that further improves air quality by filtering out 99.97 percent of all particles including bacteria, viruses and fungi. The Praetor 600 also has a cabin altitude of 5,800 feet when the aircraft is cruising at 45,000 feet. This pressure level, combined with higher humidity levels, means travellers will feel less fatigued and more active during the flight and better refreshed on arrival.

“With private jet service recovering much faster than commercial aviation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that travelers want to minimize their risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and private jets are a lower-risk way to fly in the COVID-19 era. That makes this the perfect time to bring both the versatile Praetor 600 and the Red Label experience to the European market,” said Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro. “With Marine Eugène at the helm, we look forward to the continued growth and evolution of our European offering.”

Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets, added “Flexjet is the fleet launch customer for the Praetor aircraft, continuing a two-decade-long partnership with Embraer. We are pleased that Flexjet is introducing the world’s most technologically advanced super-midsized aircraft, the Praetor 600, to the European shared ownership market and has the capabilities to thoroughly disrupt the business aviation market. We are confident that Flexjet passengers here in Europe will enjoy the ultimate experience in business and private aviation.”

The #Praetor600 has arrived and will join #Flexjet’s European fleet.https://t.co/KDPY8L4OYo pic.twitter.com/wzRjzeOSRn

— Flexjet (@Flexjet) December 1, 2020

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