Dassault Falcon Announces Sale of Two Falcon 900 Business Jets to Wallan Aviation
Dubai, Dassault Falcon announced this morning the sale of two business jets to Wallan Aviation, the Middle East general aviation company.
A pre-owned Falcon 900EX EASy II will be delivered by the end of the 2012 and a new Falcon 900LX in the second quarter of 2013. Wallan Aviation will operate both aircraft for the company's own use with the option of offering one or both aircraft to the charter market. The sale marks Wallan Aviation's entry into the Dassault Falcon range and large cabin segment.
The Falcon 900LX flies 4,750 nm non-stop and can connect Dubai with Beijing, Jeddah to Cape Town, Riyadh to Chengdou, or Dammam to Singapore.
Wallan Aviation has been operating in the Middle East for 20 years and has also expanded to other services in the aviation field, including charter, jet maintenance and a flight academy to train the next generation of pilots. The company employs more than 800 staff, with a team of 35 dedicated specifically to aviation.
Saad Wallan, chairman of Wallan Aviation and a board member of MEBAA and the Saudi Aviation Club, commented: "We chose the Falcon 900LX because of its advanced technology and efficient performance and range, its go anywhere flexibility and its resale value. For example, the Falcon 900's range connects Riyadh or Dubai directly with Shannon airport in Ireland, where passengers can clear customs immigration for the whole of the US. Falcons are increasingly proving themselves with operators in the region and this helps develop experience and build confidence in the Falcon range, which also has attractive emissions and environmental credentials."
Dassault already plans to deliver six Falcons to Middle East customers over the next 18 months, growing its fleet by 10%. More than 60 Falcon business jets currently operate in the region.
Commenting on the Wallan Aviation sale announcement, Gilles Gautier, vice president sales for Dassault Falcon, said: "We are delighted to announce this Falcon sale to Wallan Aviation, which is a well established and highly respected general aviation company in the Middle East. It represents the confidence that is returning to the regional market and underlines the commitment we continue to make to the Middle East, where we have invested to expand our infrastructure and support team."
In addition to the Dubai office, Dassault Falcon's network includes authorized service centers in Dubai and Jeddah, a spares distribution center in Dubai and a technical office in Jeddah.