News Releases
Cessna Delivers First Citation Mustang to Lebanon's Open Sky
Dubai, UAE, Nov. 16, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the 2008 Middle East Business Aviation show (MEBA) in Dubai that it recently delivered the first of two Citation Mustangs to new air charter operator Open Sky Aviation of Lebanon.
Open Sky Aviation’s chief executive officer Haytham Azhari took delivery of the company’s first Citation Mustang in Wichita, Kansas, on September 26. Open Sky Aviation will start commercial operations from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport next month, and become the first air charter operator in the Middle East to offer entry-level business jet services.
“For a pioneering business, we are delighted to have launched with a pioneering aircraft,” said Azhari. “Our strategy is to broaden the market for business aviation by offering a natural step up for travelers who presently fly scheduled across the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. With the Citation Mustang we are able to offer business jet performance and comfort but at a price that is very attractive to many business and leisure travelers.”
“The Citation Mustang is proving a popular and successful choice with charter companies across the world,” said Cessna’s vice president for International Sales, Trevor Esling. “By offering in a more compact package the usual Citation virtues of performance, reliability and value, the Mustang has found favor with operators and passengers alike. We wish Open Sky Aviation great success and look forward to playing a role in its growth.”
Open Sky Aviation will take delivery of its second Citation Mustang in June 2009.
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Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $16 billion through June 30, 2008. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 191,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 5,400 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at http://www.cessna.com.
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a $12.6 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, 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 Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Open Sky Aviation’s chief executive officer Haytham Azhari took delivery of the company’s first Citation Mustang in Wichita, Kansas, on September 26. Open Sky Aviation will start commercial operations from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport next month, and become the first air charter operator in the Middle East to offer entry-level business jet services.
“For a pioneering business, we are delighted to have launched with a pioneering aircraft,” said Azhari. “Our strategy is to broaden the market for business aviation by offering a natural step up for travelers who presently fly scheduled across the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. With the Citation Mustang we are able to offer business jet performance and comfort but at a price that is very attractive to many business and leisure travelers.”
“The Citation Mustang is proving a popular and successful choice with charter companies across the world,” said Cessna’s vice president for International Sales, Trevor Esling. “By offering in a more compact package the usual Citation virtues of performance, reliability and value, the Mustang has found favor with operators and passengers alike. We wish Open Sky Aviation great success and look forward to playing a role in its growth.”
Open Sky Aviation will take delivery of its second Citation Mustang in June 2009.
###
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $16 billion through June 30, 2008. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 191,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 5,400 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at http://www.cessna.com.
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a $12.6 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, 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 Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
