Citation X To Reverse Downward Trend?

Cessna said last month it will increase production of its Citation X by more than 65 percent from 2006 to 2010, to meet “growing demand,” primarily from non-U.S. buyers. Such demand would reverse a five-year downward trend in which 12 Citation Xs were delivered last year compared with 14 in 2005, 15 in 2004, 18 in 2003, 31 in 2002 and 34 in 2001. “The business jet market outside the U.S. continues to grow,” said Cessna senior vice president of sales and marketing Roger Whyte. “As an example, business jet orders outside the U.S. accounted for 48 percent of our total orders last year.”