Dubai, UAE - November 16, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the 2008 Middle East Business Aviation show (MEBA) in Dubai that it has received an order for a Citation Sovereign business jet from Arab Wings of Jordan. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2009.
Founded in 1975, Arab Wings is the longest-established executive air charter operator in the Middle East. The company operates a diverse fleet of business jets and has previously enjoyed success with the Citation XLS.
“As demand for business aviation grows in the region it is important for Arab Wings to adapt our fleet to the needs of different customers,” says Arab Wings’ general manager Mr. Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh. “With the addition of a midsize Citation Sovereign and CJ1+ light jet we are adding capacity at both ends of our fleet, and have chosen aircraft that are tried and tested in the Middle East’s demanding conditions.”
“Arab Wings was perhaps the first business to articulate a clear vision of the potential of business aviation in the Middle East. We are very pleased to continue playing a role in the company's successful expansion,” said Cessna’s vice president for International Sales, Trevor Esling. “Both the Citation Sovereign and CJ1+ have strong track records in charter operations and we are sure will be well received by the company’s customers.”
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a backlog of $15.6 billion as of September 30, 2008. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 191,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 5,400 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at http://www.cessna.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a $12.6 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: [a] changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; [b] the interruption of production at our facilities or at our suppliers’ facilities; [c] the timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products; [d] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which our products are sold or supplied; [e] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; [f] the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; [g] changes in national or international government policies on the export and import of commercial products; and [h] bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers that could cause disruptions in our supply chain.