Story ID: 477
Dassault Sees Improving Business Climate
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Falcon 8X sales are strong and demand for used 7Xs reflects a strong recovery in the preowned market. 
Word Count: 269

Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier is encouraged by a stronger business aviation climate and growing demand for Falcon business jets, not just in the U.S. but in other parts of the world.

This improving picture for business aviation coincides with Dassault logging the first sales in its latest jet program, the Falcon 6X, which was unveiled in February. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW812D turbofan, the Falcon 6X is expected to achieve first flight in early 2021, followed by entry into service in 2022. The jet will accommodate up to 16 passengers, and maximum range is 5,500 nm at Mach 0.80.

The introduction of the 6X coincided with a much-improved preowned market, which is evident by a significant drop in the 7X preowned inventory. Demand for used 7Xs in the Asia-Pacific region is especially strong, as is the case in the rest of the world, Trappier said. “And demand for new airplanes is starting to firm up, too.” He added that many of these buyers are new business aviation customers, “not just in China, but also the countries around China.”

 

In Europe, there is strong interest in the 6X. “I am also getting more optimistic about China and the whole Asia-Pacific region where the 8X and the 7X attract more prospects than we’ve seen in the past few years.” Dassault is seeing increased demand in Brazil and Mexico, but this “is tempered by political and economic uncertainties."

 

 

 

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