NetJets Signs for Up to 125 Embraer Phenom 300s

In the years preceding the economic collapse of 2008, the NBAA convention was punctuated by announcements of huge orders for business jets. That custom came to a screeching halt, but this year NetJets burned some rubber with the announcement it plans to buy up to 125 Embraer Phenom 300s. The $1 billion deal includes 50 firm orders, with options for 75 more. NetJets CEO David Sokol said, "We expect to buy all the aircraft." The choice of the Phenoms was attributed to customer input on features and performance. Some industry observers at the NBAA show speculated that the choice of Embraer breaks a long-standing trend for NetJets to patronize Cessna's Citation line; perhaps exacerbated by the influence of Cessna's competing CitationShares fractional program.