Boeing Business Jets reports four orders and hails european market: EBACE


Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has revealed four orders for its VIP jets to undisclosed clients so far this year, while hailing the strength of the European market at EBACE in Geneva.

The orders include two BBJ 787-8s, one BBJ 737-7 jet and the first option to purchase a BBJ 777-9. Joe Benson, president, BBJ said: “We are off to a strong start with four orders. What I love about our orders and commitments is the diversity – we have each part of our family [range] represented in these orders and commitments.”

The BBJ range offered VIP customers “the right combination of comfort, performance and best-in-class operating economics …”, he told a press meeting at EBACE.

Incorporating the latest technologies from the manufacturer’s commercial aircraft, the BBJ range consumes significantly less fuel compared with previous generations of each aircraft, said the OEM.

Alexis Fecteau, director of Marketing, Boeing hailed the recovery of the market for large business jets in Europe and elsewhere. While European business jet traffic is 8% down this year compared with last year, it remains about 6% up on the level before the pandemic, said Fecteau quoting WINGX data. “With a recovery in commercial traffic – both domestic and international – it makes us think that the business jet improvement in numbers is going to be persistent and good for the industry,” he added. Once new clients had tried private jet aviation, it was difficult for them to return to commercial airline travel.

The European market, accounting for 12% of the business jet fleet, is the second largest after North America and “is very strong”, said Fecteau. “Growth of about 4% in the large jet market shows strong demand for intercontinental and trans-oceanic travel.” About 14% of BBJ fleet is based in Europe and 40% of all BBJ flights either take off or land from European airports, according to Boeing.

Meanwhile Benson, who was appointed to his current role earlier this month, described it as his “dream job”. He pledged to bring both stability and continuity to the company. The manufacturer has sold more than 260 jets since its launch in 1996. Pictured is the new BBJ 737-7, expected to enter service in 2025.

  
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