Get FinancingAerolineas Ejecutivas Orders Three Cessna Citation Latitudes From Textron Aviation
Leading Mexican business-aviation company Aerolineas Ejecutivas (ALE) has ordered three Cessna Citation Latitude midsize business jets from Textron Aviation for addition to its MexJet fractional ownership division. The move follows an October 2017 deal in which Textron Aviation—owner of the Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker brands—expanded its channel partnership with ALE to cover new aircraft sales and service for Textron’s entire jet and turboprop portfolio. ALE already was a sales representative for Textron’s special mission aircraft and an ASF (authorized service facility) for Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft.
Welcome Aboard
Textron Aviation is to deliver the three Citation Latitudes to ALE throughout 2018’s first three quarters. MexJet’s fleet already numbers 30-plus aircraft and includes light, midsize, and large cabin jets and helicopters. The new Latitudes will operate out of Monterrey and Toluca. The latter is the home base for ALE, which launched in 1968 as an air taxi operator but is now one of Mexico’s largest aviation companies with facilities located throughout the country and interests in new and pre-owned sales of aircraft, fractional programs, aircraft administration, fixed-base operator (FBO) services, and maintenance operations.
In a statement, Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation vice president, sales, Latin America and Caribbean, said ALE’s fractional customers should expect cabin comfort, performance, and lower operating costs with the Latitudes. “ALE has a long relationship with Textron Aviation’s Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker brands, and we’re excited to add the Citation Latitude to its fleet,” he said.
Globally, Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft to 143 countries, including Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops, military trainers, defense aircraft, and high-performance piston aircraft. The company delivered 42 Citation Latitudes in 2016, including the first one registered in Mexico. Overall, Textron Aviation reports its global fleet of Latitudes now tops 100 and 600,000 flight hours.
The Latitude
Counting fleet operators, corporate owners, and special-missions operators as owners, the Latitude seats nine passengers in a standard configuration, sports a new cabin cooling system and pressurization system, and includes a wireless cabin technology system. The aircraft has a maximum 446 KTAS (826 km/h) cruise speed, 12,394-pound (5,622-kilogram) useful load, 30,800-pound (13,971-kilogram) maximum takeoff weight, and 45,000-foot (13,716-meter) maximum operating altitude.
Alexis Javkin, MexJet business director, touted the Latitude as the “most comfortable, technologically advanced cabin in its class,” adding that the aircraft “gives passengers large cabin comfort and amenities in a midsize business jet, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating its innovative capabilities to our customers throughout Mexico and the region.”
Source: Textron Aviation