Has Options For 16 More In Deal Potentially Worth Over $500
Million
Dassault Falcon announced Thursday that National Air Services
(NAS) of Saudi Arabia has entered into a pre-purchase agreement for
as many as 20 Falcon 2000LXs. The deal includes four firm orders
and 16 options, and is expected to be finalized this summer.
With a potential value of over $500 million, the deal would mark
one of the largest purchase of business jets in the region.
Deliveries should start in the third quarter of 2008 and then take
place over the next six years.
"We are very proud to have been chosen by NAS, the leading
provider of aviation services in the Middle East, and are confident
that this addition to their current fleet will help them meet the
growing demand for private aviation in the region," said John
Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. "Only one month
after the official launch of the Falcon 2000LX program, NAS's
intention to purchase 20 aircraft shows the great potential of this
new airplane in the large cabin business jets' segment."
Announced at the European Business Aviation Association in
Geneva last May, the Falcon 2000LX is based on the current Falcon
2000EX. Company officials state it will feature a range of 4,000
nautical miles at Mach .80 and a "best-in-class" speed to 41,000
feet in just 18 minutes. The 2000LX will also come standard with
the award-winning EASy flight deck which has won high marks of
praise for its integrated features and intuitive displays.
"The Falcon 2000LX is ideally suited to the Middle East market,"
said Taher Agueel, Chief Executive Officer of NAS, "the range
increase of this new Falcon 2000 version will give our customers
more capability and more efficiency on their typical trips".
The Falcon 2000LX will be able to connect Dubai, Jeddah or
Riyadh to London, according to company officials, and will also be
capable to combine multiple-city trips in the region on the same
day. It will be powered by the same Pratt & Whitney Canada
PW308C engines as the 2000EX and the 2000EX EASy.
National Air Services (NAS) operates four distinct strategic
business units, offering its customers non-traditional, total
solutions to meet their various aviation needs. The company is the
Middle East representative of NetJets, offering fractional
ownership and leasing options, and has for the past six years, been
providing this service along with full portfolio of aircraft
management services solutions.