The first Praetor 500 has been delivered to Flexjet. The aircraft was announced alongside the Praetor 600 at NBAA-BACE 2018. Both aircraft have received triple certification from ANAC, the FAA and EASA.
Flexjet is introducing the Praetor 500 into its fractional fleet through a purchase agreement with Embraer, announced at NBAA-BACE 2019. The deal is valued at up to US$1.4bn, at current list prices, and comprises a fleet of Embraer business jets. With this order, which includes the Phenom 300 light jet and the recently certified Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 jets, Flexjet became the Praetor fleet launch customer.
“As the Praetor fleet launch customer, Flexjet, once again, will lead the fractional ownership market with the introduction of the most modern midsize aircraft,” said Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. “It is with much gratitude and pride that we deliver our first Praetor 500 to Flexjet, confident that Flexjet owners will enjoy the ultimate customer experience in business aviation.”
Flexjet introduced the Legacy 500 into its Red Label fleet in 2015, and the Legacy 450 in 2016. Both models became the first full fly-by-wire aircraft in the Flexjet fleet.
“We know what our owners look for in an aircraft and the Praetor 500 hits so many of those features – from performance to fuel efficiency to ample baggage space,” said Michael Silvestro, CEO at Flexjet. “And in keeping our commitment to have the youngest and most modern fleet on the market, soon we will begin upgrading all our Legacy 450s to Praetor 500s.”
The partnership between Embraer and Flexjet dates back to 2003, when Flight Options, which merged with Flexjet in 2015, became the first fractional ownership programme to introduce the Legacy executive jet into its fleet. Flight Options introduced the Phenom 300 into its fractional programme in 2010, receiving Embraer’s milestone 100th Phenom 300 in 2012.
