Wichita, KS - February 22, 2010 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it has completed its acquisition of CitationAir, a business aviation solutions company originally called CitationShares.
The original company was started in 2000 as a joint venture between Cessna and TAG Aviation Holding SA with each holding a 50-percent share. Cessna had gradually acquired a greater share through the past decade and today announced acquisition of the final 8 percent. Terms of the transaction were not released.
CitationAir is a business aviation solutions company offering jet cards, jet shares, aircraft management and customized solutions for individuals, businesses and corporate flight departments. CitationAir took its new name last year to better reflect the changes to its business model adopted through the years that give customers more choice and flexibility in meeting their business aviation requirements and to strengthen its alignment with Cessna.
"Because of CitationAir's innovative products, Cessna is able to offer customers an even wider range of lift solutions, whether the need is to buy their own new or pre-owned jet or for a customized lift plan giving them access to CitationAir's fleet of Cessna Citations," said Jack J. Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO.
With this move, CitationAir becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Cessna but maintains its separate operation. Customers will continue to work directly through CitationAir for access to their comprehensive portfolio of products.
CitationAir is based in Greenwich, Conn. and operates a fleet of 80 Citation models throughout North America. For more information, visit www.citationair.com
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business: Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine turboprops, Cessna single-engine piston aircraft, aftermarket services and lift solutions by CitationAir. In 2009, Cessna delivered 754 aircraft, including 289 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $3.3 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 6,000 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
About CitationAir
Founded in 2000, CitationAir is an industry leader offering individuals and businesses the advantages of private jet travel through its innovative programs, including Jet Card, Jet Shares, Jet Management and Corporate Solutions products. CitationAir flies Cessna's popular Citation aircraft exclusively—the Citation Bravo, Citation CJ3, Citation XLS, and Citation Sovereign—which are serviced and maintained at the factory-level. CitationAir operates the youngest fleet in the air by the best pilots in the industry, while setting the standard for safety and unparalleled customer service. CitationAir's parent company is Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron (NYSE: TXT) company. More information about CitationAir and its offerings are available at www.citationair.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, and Textron Systems. 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 cancellations or deferrals 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; [h] bankruptcy or other financial or performance problems at major suppliers or subcontractors that could cause disruptions in our supply chain; [i] continued difficult conditions in the financial markets resulting in adverse impacts to our customers, including difficulty in obtaining financing for the purchase of our products; and [j] continued volatility in the economy resulting in a prolonged downturn in the business jet market.