SAINT-CLOUD, France, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ —
Dassault Falcon will present its fleet of large cabin, long range business jets at the third Marrakech Air Show, to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, April 4-7. It will be Dassault’s first appearance at the show, which bills itself as the foremost trade show in the African region.
Although Falcon sales have so far been concentrated in South Africa, strong demand for oil and gas and other natural resources suggests the entire region will become a major growth area for business aircraft in the years to come. “We remain encouraged by the potential for long-term growth in business aviation in the region,” said Gilles Gautier, V.P. International Sales for Dassault Aviation. “Business jets are now seen in the region as a powerful tool to enable quick and convenient access to customers within the African region and worldwide.”
Some 60 Falcon jets are in operation in the region, 21% of them in North Africa alone. Ten other airplanes are on order for delivery in 2012-13, most of them for Dassault’s flagship aircraft, the Falcon 7X. “To the emerging business class, Falcons are appreciated for their large and comfortable cabins, superior technology and efficiency and the value they add to the bottom line – whether that means a flight across the globe to seal a business deal, or a multi-leg journey completed in the same day,” declared Alain Lemee, Director of International Sales for the region.
The exceptional short field and hot-and-high performance, sturdiness and operating economics of Falcon models make them ideal for the tough conditions and vast expanses of the African continent. Their unparalleled performance and flexibility has made them a special favorite among government users, which operate 30% of the Falcons in the region.
A Falcon 2000LX will be on display at the Marrakech Air Show. It will feature the new BMW group DesignworksUSA interior conceived for the Falcon 2000S. Both aircraft are built on the proven and capable Falcon 2000 platform. Over 450 Falcon 2000 models are in service around the world, making it one of the most popular twin-engine business jets in operation.
The Falcon 2000S introduced last year as a new low-cost option to the fleet, will make the traditional roominess, comfort and performance of Falcon models-including outstanding short field performance–available for a price comparable to that of smaller midsize aircraft. “I have no doubt that this new Falcon will become, like its siblings, very popular among customers and operators wishing to upgrade their fleets with cost and environmentally efficient airplanes,” added Lemee.
Falcon 7X: Leader in the African region
Eight Falcon 7X aircraft are already in service in the region and three more will be delivered in the coming months. The global 7X fleet recently passed the 100,000 flight hour milestone. The tri-jet offers flexible range, a large and comfortable cabin interior and efficient and economical performance, as well as advanced technology based on Dassault’s military heritage. The aircraft’s 5,950 nm range enables it to connect over 90 percent of all major city pairs nonstop. It can fly Marrakech to Beijing, Los Angeles or Cape Town and can access challenging airports such as London City Airport — the only business jet in its category capable of doing so.
About Dassault Falcon
Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 70 countries across five continents. Dassault Aviation produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as the complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on multiple continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, over 2,100 Falcon jets have been delivered to 81 countries worldwide. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the tri-jets-the Falcon 900LX and the 7X-as well as the twin-engine Falcon 2000LX and the new 2000S.
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