Textron Aviation and NetJets have announced a new fleet agreement that gives NetJets the option to purchase up to 1,500 additional Cessna Citation business jets over the next 15 years.
This agreement extends NetJets’ existing fleet agreement and includes options for an increasing number of aircraft each year, enabling the company to expand its fleet with Cessna Citation Ascend, Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude aircraft.
NetJets has been named the fleet launch customer for Textron Aviation’s newest jet, the Citation Ascend. Deliveries of the Citation Ascend are expected to begin in 2025 when the aircraft, currently under development, is expected to enter into service.
“NetJets customers around the world continually select Citations as their aircraft of choice,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “We’re honoured to be the largest provider of industry-leading aircraft to NetJets and look forward to continuing to work together to design and deliver the best aviation experience based on customer feedback. Expanding and adding the Citation Ascend to the NetJets fleet will provide its global customers with even more versatility and flexibility to accomplish their missions, building upon the exceptional performance and popularity of the Latitude and Longitude.”
Since the inception of the more than 40-year relationship between the companies, NetJets has taken delivery of more than 800 aircraft from Textron Aviation, including exercising over 300 options for Citation Latitudes and Longitudes during the past eight years. Through the years, NetJets has owned and operated Citations including the Citation SII, V, Excel/XLS, Sovereign, X, Latitude and Longitude models.
“As a long-time, trusted ally who shares our commitment to safety and service, Textron Aviation is the ideal partner to help us expand our offerings to NetJets Owners with the introduction of the new Ascend to our midsize jet class, as well as by growing our overall fleet,” said Doug Henneberry, NetJets executive vice president, aircraft asset management. “Based on past demand for the popular Citation Latitude and Longitude, the new Ascend and all our new Citations will undoubtedly be well received by our owners, particularly those who depend on NetJets to help them do more and miss less.”
More than 30 Citation models have been certified over the 50-year history of the Citation line. There are currently six Citation models in production: the Citation M2 Gen2, Citation CJ3+, Citation CJ4 Gen2, Citation XLS Gen2, Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude, with the Citation Ascend under development.
