Berkshire Hathaway holding NetJets Inc. today announced a $9.6 billion private aircraft purchase from Cessna and Bombardier, marking one of the largest private aviation orders on record.
NetJets said it would add up to 425 new aircraft under purchase agreements with Bombardier Inc. and Textron Inc., which manufactures Cessna jets, expanding on the company’s current fleet of more than 700 planes.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, NetJets is one of several general aviation companies to have a presence at the Westchester County Airport as a fixed-base operator (FBO). There, NetJets maintains one of the company”™s three nationwide airport facilities reserved exclusively for NetJets clients.
“This purchase demonstrates our long-term planning and represents our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled safety and service in aircraft uniquely customized for our owners,” said NetJets Chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., based in Omaha, Neb., is chaired by billionaire investor Warren Buffett.
The purchase will include up to 275 Bombardier Challenger aircraft, with 100 firm orders and options for as many as 175 more, as well as including up to 150 Cessna Citation Latitudes, including 25 firm orders and up to 125 more.
The Bombardier and Cessna deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
The order is NetJets’ third major purchase since October 2010. In March of 2011, the company purchased as many as 120 Bombardier planes for $6.7 billion, and in October of 2010, NetJets purchased as many as 125 Embraer SA Phenoms for $1.05 billion.
