Story ID: 041May17
EliteJets Accepts Milestone 400th Embraer Phenom 300
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: EliteJets also took delivery of another Phenom 300, S/N 403, on the same day, bringing its all-Embraer fleet to four of the light jets and one Legacy 500.
Word Count: 224
Embraer Executive Jets handed over the 400th Phenom 300 last month at its facility in Melbourne, Floa. The milestone light jet went to EliteJets, a Naples, Fla.-based air charter firm that plans to start on-demand service this month. EliteJets also took delivery of another Phenom 300, S/N 403, on the same day, bringing its all-Embraer fleet to four Phenom 300s and one Legacy 500.

“We are honored by EliteJets’ selection of Embraer aircraft and services to build its brand-new fleet. The Phenom 300 and the Legacy 500 deliver comfort, performance and low operating costs,” said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano. “We are confident that the aircraft will deliver solid business performance to EliteJets.”

EliteJets founder and CEO Daniel Randolph—who made his fortune by founding, and later selling, Personalization Mall—told AIN that he decided to get into the air charter game after his personal experiences in flying charter. “Most charter outfits are using old airplanes, and it's outrageous what is being charged to fly on newer aircraft such as Phenom 300s,” he said. “We can do better.”

The first Phenom 300 rolled off the production line in December 2009, and the light jet has been the best-selling business aircraft for the past four years. All Phenoms are now being assembled at the Melbourne facility.

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