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Dassault Buys Ruag's Geneva and Lugano Sites
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The move is the latest in the French airframer's push to improve its European maintenance network.
Word Count: 236
Dassault is continuing the recent expansion of its customer service offerings with the purchase of Ruag’s operations in Geneva and Lugano, the companies announced this morning. This move follows similar deals earlier this year when Dassault purchased ExecuJet's global aircraft maintenance business and TAG Aviation’s European aircraft maintenance operations, and strengthens the manufacturer's presence at Geneva, one of Europe's top business aviation hubs.

“The acquisition of the business aviation activities of Ruag is part of our strategy to develop a worldwide MRO network of excellence and will allow Dassault Aviation to reinforce its footprint in Switzerland,” said Eric Trappier, the French airframer’s chairman and CEO, adding that Ruag has been a long-time authorized Falcon service center.

“We are extremely satisfied that we have completed this transaction with Dassault Aviation, a leader in manufacturing and maintaining aircraft,” said Ruag CEO Urs Breitmeier. “They are an experienced partner of Ruag and can provide a strong foundation for successfully continuing operations in Geneva and Lugano, as well as for the future of the members of our staff at both sites.”

While Ruag will retain its maintenance operation and FBO at Germany’s Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen Airport, the deal with Dassault also includes its FBOs at Geneva-Meyrin and Lugano-Agno Airports. “Both Geneva and Lugano FBO activities will complement the full range of services offered by Dassault Aviation in Switzerland,” concluded Trappier.