Dubai Watch -- Embraer, Cessna

Globalia Signs for Phenoms for New Airline
Embraer and Spain’s Globalia Group signed a contract for 11 executive jets including eight Phenom 100s and two Phenom 300s, during the 2007 Dubai Air Show this week. Globalia also signed for one Legacy 600. The 11-aircraft order is valued at $62.31 million and will part of a new airline launched by the Spanish company.
The aircraft will be operated by Pepe Jets, Globalia’s newest subsidiary, one of the largest tourism groups in Spain. Globalia also owns Air Europa, Spain’s second largest airline. Pepe Jets will receive its Legacy 600 in April. The Phenom 100 deliveries are scheduled to begin in October 2010, and the first Phenom 300 will be available in April 2011, all of which will be for the company’s charter and on-demand operations.
“The new airline we are launching is a response to the growing call for on-demand charter flights from businessmen and entrepreneurs who want both flexibility and comfort,” said Juan José Hidalgo, Globalia Executive President. “What we’ve been looking for during the evaluation process for our fleet are aircraft offering the reliability of an airliner, as well as the comfort of a real business jet. And this is exactly what we have selected with the Phenoms and the Legacy 600.”
Globalia is the parent company of a group whose corporate purpose is to invest in financial assets, debentures, shares and holdings in other companies, as well as offering management, advisory and business services. The company consists of Air Europa, the travel agencies Halcon Viajes and Viajes Ecuador, the tour operator Travelplan and other business and supporting units. The integration of the airline, travel agencies and tour operator into Globalia resulted in the creation of a large leisure and travel group offering a clearly differentiated product to the consumer. The group’s aim is to change the traditional concept of marketing travel and tourism products.

FAS Takes Phenoms
Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), ordered eight Embraer Executive Jets: four Phenom 300s, three Legacy 600s and one Lineage 1000 aircraft. The total value of the deal, at list price, is $145.78 million. This order is already included in Embraer’s backlog.
“We are very delighted to receive this order from an experienced and renowned operator like Falcon Aviation Services,” said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets.
FAS will receive its first Legacy 600 in the second quarter of 2008. The Lineage 1000 delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2010, and the first Phenom 300 will be available in the second quarter of 2011.
“The Embraer Executive Jets allow us to cover all segments with aircraft that offer spacious cabins and comfort,” said HH. Dr. Sheikh Sultan, owner and CEO of Falcon Aviation Services. “In addition, Embraer’s experience in developing jets with high availability gives FAS the right tool to continue its aggressive growth strategy.”
Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) was founded in 2005 by HH. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to fill a gap in the aviation services market in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East. The company provides helicopter charter and aircraft maintenance and management services. Based at Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi, it is launching an aggressive growth strategy in the corporate jet charter market in response to the unprecedented development boom in the region

Cessna Receives $110 Million Order from Wallan Aviation of Saudi Arabia
Wallan Aviation, Cessna’s authorized sales representative for the Middle, placed an order for 11 Citation business jets and 14 single engine aircraft valued at more than $110 million. The order includes four Mustangs, on CJ2+ and, one CJ3 and one XLS+. The order, set for delivery between 2008 and 2010, also includes four SkyCatchers, 10 Skyhawk TDs, three Sovereigns and one Citation X.
“We are seeing considerable interest from a new generation of entrepreneurial owners who are attracted to Cessna’s combination of performance and value,” said Saad Wallan, chair of Wallan Aviation, East. Wallan is based in Ryadh, Saudi Arabia.
“Today’s order from Wallan Aviation demonstrates that business aviation in the Middle East is entering a new era,” said Cessna Vice President, International Sales Trevor Esling. “With our strong and growing sales and support organization in the region, Cessna is well placed to meet this rising tide of demand.”