Flexjet is accelerating deliveries of the Gulfstream G450 business jet in response to strong market demand and will have six G450s flying in its fleet by the end of the year, bolstering the company’s ability to serve international routes nonstop.
The G450 is part of an order Flexjet placed in October 2014 for up to 50 aircraft, which also included the G500 and G650 business jets. Through its close partnership with Gulfstream, Flexjet will closely monitor demand and collaborate with the manufacturer to accelerate deliveries and exercise any of the additional 26 options whenever possible.
“Since we took delivery of our first Gulfstream G450 aircraft in June, the response to these new long-range aircraft has been so robust that we have asked Gulfstream to move up delivery of our next two G450 aircraft to this fall rather than mid-2016, as previously agreed,” said Flexjet chief executive officer, Michael Silvestro.
“Our sales for the year are up 20% and the marketplace clearly is hungry for extended-range products from Gulfstream. Stepping up our delivery schedule will help us to satisfy this appetite. Gulfstream’s willingness to make this change for us illustrates the type of strong partnership we have built during the past year.”
“In the fractional jet industry, you hear a lot about orders for new planes being delayed or cancelled – not accelerated. Not only have we had strong demand for the Gulfstream G450, but we also are seeing tremendous enthusiasm for the G650. We are pleased to be able to take delivery of the G650 early next year, making us the only fractional provider offering this aircraft,” said Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci.
“With the G450, G650 and other advanced new aircraft entering our fleet, we are well-positioned to meet the needs and expectations of today’s fractional fliers.”
August 19, 2015