SHANGHAI, China (April XX, 2015) – Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, opened the 2015 Asian Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition today announcing a new order for the Citation XLS+ business jet in China.
FT Business Jets Co. Ltd., based in Shanghai, plans to offer charter operations in China, matching the XLS+’s range and efficiency with customers’ business and personal travel needs. The aircraft will be delivered later this year by Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd., a Cessna joint venture with China Aviation Industry General Aviation Company Ltd. (CAIGA).
“The Citation XLS+ has gained a reputation globally as a top performer in terms of cost and performance; a reputation that now extends to charter operators in China,” said Bill Schultz, senior vice president, Business Development, China. “The XLS+ has the cabin size and amenities required for today’s business executive, and it has the performance and operating efficiency unparalleled in the midsize jet segment.”
As part of Cessna’s continued investment in the growth of China’s midsize business jet market, the company is today hosting the first Citation XLS+ Operator Conference for customers in China. The event, held in Shanghai, is focused on sharing best practices for midsize jet ownership and includes Cessna product and aftermarket service experts, and private and charter jet operators.
The Citation XLS+, the latest incarnation in the best-selling Excel-XLS family, was certified for Chinese operations in early 2014 by the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), and the first deliveries from the Cessna-AVIC (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd. joint venture were celebrated in November.
Cessna and CAIGA formed the joint venture in 2012 to assemble and deliver Citation XLS+ business jets for Chinese customers. Operations in China include final assembly, paint, testing, interior installation, customization, flight testing and delivery.
About the Citation XLS+
Business owners consistently have chosen the Citation XLS+ more than any other aircraft in the light midsize category for its unparalleled combination of comfort, ease of operation, range of mission capabilities and favorable operating efficiencies. The aircraft provides customers access from Beijing to Hong Kong and Hong Kong to Shanghai, well within a one-day trip. Inside is the largest cabin in its class with nearly 19 feet (5.64 meters) of length, a dropped aisle that provides 68 inches (173 cm) of height the entire length of the cabin and seating for up to 12 passengers. It travels as fast as 441 knots (817 kilometers/hour) with a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 kilometers), departing from runways as short as 3,560 feet (1,085 meters).
More than 6,750 Citations have been delivered to customers around the world since the first Cessna Citation business jet was put into service in 1972. Citations are the largest fleet of business jets in the world and have surpassed 31 million flight hours.
About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit textronaviation.com.
About Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd.
Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Cessna Aircraft Company, through Textron Far East Pte. Ltd. and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA), through CAIGA South China Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd., obtained its business license from the Ministry of Commerce in July 2014. Joint venture operations conduct final assembly of Cessna Citation XLS+ business jets for the Chinese market including assembly, paint, testing, interior installation, customization, flight testing and delivery of the XLS+ to in-country customers. Deliveries of aircraft by the joint venture began in November 2014.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com.