Cessna Citation Aircraft to Debut in Middle East

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As part of it's strategy to further tap into the Middle East's lucrative business jet market, Cessna Aircraft Company - the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation planes - has confirmed several of its Citation aircraft range will make their regional debuts at this November's Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) exhibition. An interior mock-up of the US-based company's largest business jet to date, the in-deveIopment Citation Columbus - an eight-seat aircraft designed for intercontinental travel within a target range of 4,000 nautical miles at Mach 80 - will be at the core of Cessna's MEBA showcase.

Planning to achieve FAA certification for the $27 million Citation Columbus by the end of 2013, with deliveries due to begin in 2014, Cessna has earmarked the Middle East as a key pillar in its global growth strategy.

And Cessna believes its Middle East clientele will find the Columbus' increased cabin size and range decisive deal makers for potential regional buyers seeking non-stop links between two of the globe's fastest emerging industrial markets, the GCC and China. "Cessna has been active in the Middle East for many years, " said Trevor Esling, Vice President for International Sales. "We see the region as increasingly important, given its strong economic growth and the emergence of a new generation of corporate and private customers who are attracted to the value that our Citation aircraft offer. Generally, Middle Eastern customers favour larger aircraft with longer range capabilities, so our Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and newly launched Citation Columbus are faring especially well."

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