Flexjet (LXJ, Cleveland Cuyahoga Country) has signed a purchase agreement with Embraer Executive Jets for 182 aircraft, with an option for 30 more, in a deal valued at up to USD7 billion. The company confirmed to ch-aviation that the order primarily consists of Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 aircraft, along with a number of Phenom 300E jets. The agreement also includes an expanded services and support package.
This marks the largest order in Flexjet's 30-year history and is also the largest single order ever placed with Embraer Executive Jets. After the deliveries, the operator's fleet is expected to nearly double within five years. While most of the new aircraft will be operated by Flexjet's United States division, some will be added to the European and Middle East fleet, the company told ch-aviation.
The fractional ownership specialist aims to expand the customer base into the Middle East and is exploring options to base aircraft there as part of an expansion of European operations.
A longstanding customer for Embraer, Flexjet introduced the Legacy Executive in 2003, the Phenom 300 in 2010, the Legacy 450 in 2016, and both the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 in 2019. CEO Michael Silvestro highlighted the strong performance of the latter two types. "In fact, the Praetor 600 was so well accepted in Europe, we opted to include it in our North American fleet in 2023, extending our Embraer fleet across two continents," he said.
Currently, Flexjet's Part 135-certified fleet in the United States includes 138 Embraer aircraft, comprising thirty-five Phenom 300s, twenty-five Phenom 300Es, twenty-four Legacy 450s, forty-two Praetor 500s, and twelve Praetor 600s. Additionally, Flexjet Operations (Malta) operates four Legacy 500s and six Praetor 600s, while Flexjet Operations (United Kingdom) manages three Praetor 600s.
Across the United States and Malta, the group operates an additional 163 jets manufactured by Bombardier Business Aircraft and Gulfstream Aerospace.
