FLEXJET & OEM LEGACIES: THE EMBRAER PRAETOR SERIES
JULY 13, 2023
Welcome to a world where more people fly privately than ever before. Interest in migrating to private jet travel has been met with renewed enthusiasm – most likely in an effort to leave the limitations of commercial behind. The most coveted aircraft in our industry are the ones that provide the quintessential business jet experience while remaining cutting-edge, fuel-efficient, and sleeker in profile agility.
These are the rare breed private jets. All-purpose standouts. However, since 2020, sales and utilization of mid and super-midsize cabin classes have genuinely taken off.
By accurately forecasting this surge in cabin-class popularity, Flexjet has proven the ability to fundamentally understand where the market winds are blowing and thus position itself to provide the most in-demand premium aircraft as the global leader within luxury private aviation.
Not only does Flexjet understand the market’s demand for the mid- and super-midsize aircraft category, but, as far back as 2016, Flexjet led the way by identifying and selecting the “best in class” Praetor 500 and its predecessor, the Legacy 450, as a fitting addition to our overall fleet.
Discover why we feature the Praetor series as an indispensable part of our premium global fleet, and why you won’t have to wait long before making this dynamic aircraft series your new go-to private jet of choice.
EMBRAER EXECUTIVE JETS – A PARTNER THAT SHARES FLEXJET’S PASSION FOR INNOVATION
Embraer’s long relationship with first Flight Options and now Flexjet has been based in part on a shared commitment to innovation, one that has been symbiotic. The Praetor itself, the newest product of this partnership, was the result of the analysis of nearly 35,000 hours of flight data from Flexjet Owners.
As a Bombardier-owned company for the first 18 years of its existence, Flexjet operated only Bombardier aircraft. After Directional Aviation acquired Flexjet in 2013, the new management team decided to expand the Bombardier-exclusive fleet with the most technologically advanced aircraft from all manufacturers.
Directional Aviation, through its ownership of Flight Options and its fractional program, had a longstanding relationship with Embraer Executive Jets. As the Flexjet and Flight Options programs were integrated into a single provider flying the Flexjet banner, the first new aircraft introduced into the fleet was from Embraer: The light-cabin Phenom 300.
Flight Options had introduced the Embraer Phenom 300 to the fractional marketplace in 2010, and it had been an instant success. When it was introduced to the Flexjet fleet in 2014, it already was the world’s best-selling light-cabin aircraft – a distinction it has maintained since then. Perfectly suited to its mission, the Phenom 300 quickly became a Flexjet Owner favorite as well.
With the world’s best-selling light jet (the Phenom 300) and the best-selling super-midsized jet (Bombardier’s Challenger 300/350) as the foundation of its fleet, Flexjet sought to fill a gap in its lineup with a truly innovative midsized aircraft.
THE PRAETOR 500 & PRAETOR 600 – AN ELITE LINEAGE
This year, Flexjet added the Embraer Praetor 600 to its North American fleet after two years of successful operations in Europe and seven years of operating the Praetor 500 and its predecessor, the Legacy 450.
“Together with the existing Embraer Praetor 500 and Challenger 350 aircraft flying in our fleet, the addition of the Praetor 600 and the Challenger 3500 has given Flexjet the industry’s leading offering of mid and super-midsized aircraft,” said Flexjet Executive Vice President of Sales D.J. Hanlon. “The aircraft available to travelers within this offering present mission versatility that is unmatched by any other private aviation provider.”
A nationwide tour to introduce this aircraft to the market in 2016 confirmed Flexjet’s confidence in the aircraft. And, as the fractional launch customer for the Legacy 450 and Praetor 500, Flexjet has seven years of maintenance and operation experience in this aircraft to help inform future evolutions of the product.
Similarly, a new tour to ingratiate the Praetor 600 more properly is in the works at Flexjet.
Since 2020, the Praetor 600 has been the backbone of our fast-growing European fleet, receiving plaudits since we introduced it as the fleet launch customer for the aircraft. The Praetor 600’s introduction to Flexjet’s U.S. fleet has reflected that jet’s success in Europe.
Investment in our mid and super-midsized fleet in North America has been vital to meet the growing demand for coast-to-coast travel. In fact, Flexjet has nearly doubled this part of its fleet since 2018.
The Flexjet Embraer Praetor 600 seats nine passengers and offers class-leading capabilities that make it ideal for both business and leisure use. It joins the Praetor 500, already a staple in our versatile fleet, and is available for fractional purchase today.
With a range of 7,441 kilometers/4,018 nautical miles and a high-speed cruise of 466 knots/536 MPH, the Praetor 600 is the world’s farthest-flying jet in its class.
In the cockpit, the Praetor 600 includes full fly-by-wire technology, which powers the Active Turbulence Reduction feature that not only makes every flight the smoothest but also the most efficient possible. One of the distinctive features of the Praetor 600 is enlarged winglets, roughly six feet high, which contribute to the aircraft’s fuel efficiency.
Beyond possessing technology resulting in the industry’s quietest super-midsized cabin, the Praetor 600 also has a cabin altitude of just 5,800 feet while cruising at 45,000 feet. This pressure level, combined with higher (comfortable) humidity levels, means travelers will feel less fatigued and more active during the flight and better refreshed on arrival.
HOW CAN I ACCESS THE FLEXJET PRAETOR 500 & PRAETOR 600?
Getting into the ideal aircraft for you usually requires some level of commitment through fractional ownership or lease share access via a closed-fleet model.
Flexjet private jet Ownership features exclusive fleet aircraft that are sometimes not available in open fleets or on-demand business models – short-notice scheduling, and specialty services like complimentary helicopter airport transfers are also perks enjoyed via ownership programs.
Fractional and lease-level ownership at Flexjet also entitles to you the ability to upgrade or downgrade your aircraft to other available fleet cabin classes. This aircraft flexibility and attractive interchange opportunities allow you the freedom to experience several different models and cabin classes while optimizing for your specific trip needs.
Want to learn more about our unmatched programs and services? Contact our team via our website or call us at (866) 309-2214 to discover more about our exclusive fractional jet ownership, private jet lease, or a premium charter on-demand jet program.
