Brazil’s Embraer overtakes Cessna as the preferred private aircraft in the U.S. The Brazilians have recently ended the 15-year reign of the American company, writes Bloomberg Linea in its latest report.
Over the past year until August, Embraer’s Phenom 300, a medium-sized jet that accommodates up to nine passengers, recorded over 360,000 takeoffs and landings at US airports, approximately 1,400 more than Cessna’s Citation Excel series.
The Cessna Citation Excel had been the most operated private jet for nearly 15 years, according to the monthly report on executive jet operations from the Federal Aviation Administration of the USA.
The growing popularity of the Phenom 300 can be attributed to its lower fuel consumption, cost-effectiveness (approximately one-third less expensive), and superior speed and range compared to the Excel, noted private aviation consultant Brian Foley.
These advantages outweigh the Phenom 300’s smaller cabin size, he added. “It has become a favorite among charter and fractional ownership providers,” Foley said.
He noted the perception that it was designed for high usage due to Embraer’s extensive commercial aircraft heritage.
In May, NetJets, a Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, announced a deal worth US$5 billion to purchase up to 250 Embraer Praetor 500 aircraft larger than the Phenom 300.
The deal with the leading private jet operator in the US includes a service contract, says Bloomberg.
Last year, private jets accounted for about 27% of Embraer’s approximately US$4.2 billion in sales.
Except for a brief period between 2007 and 2008 when the now-discontinued Hawker 800 was the primary private aircraft in the US, Cessna had held this title in records dating back to 2001.
Embraer now proudly manufactures the most used private jet for US flights, but Textron, the parent company of Cessna, remains the manufacturer’s leader in total flight hours.
This is thanks to its wide variety of aircraft, ranging from very light jets to the super-midsize Longitude.
Cessna is in the process of enhancing its Excel series with a new model, the Citation Ascend, slated to commence operations in 2025, as announced by the company.
With information from Bloomberg Linea