Executive AirShare Credits Embraer Jets; Innovative Business Model For Rapid Growth
Regional Fractional Takes Delivery of First U.S. Manufactured Phenom Jet
MELBOURNE, Fla. and KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 20, 2011 --- High performance and low direct operating costs have been the secrets to the success for both Embraer’s Phenom light jets and for launch customer Executive AirShare, whose Phenom 100 jet was unveiled as the first produced at Embraer’s new Melbourne, Fla. assembly facility earlier this month. Executive AirShare today officially took ownership of the aircraft, which will be added to the fractional fleet.
Executive AirShare, a regional fractional aircraft ownership company headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is the world’s leading operator of Phenom business jets, with 13 Phenom 100 and five Phenom 300 aircraft in its managed and fractional fleet, and has more than 11,000 total flight-hours’ experience.
Executive AirShare was the first to operate the Phenom 100 aircraft under FAA Parts 135 and 91k, the first fractional to operate a Phenom 300, and is the only fractional provider to offer both the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300.
“We were ahead of the curve back in 2007 when we placed our original order for the Phenom 100 aircraft,” said Executive AirShare President and Chief Operating Officer Keith D. Plumb. “But when aircraft buyers see the Phenom for the first time, they’re pleasantly surprised at the size of the aircraft and the spaciousness and comfort of the Oval Lite® cabin.”
Executive AirShare serves shareowners from bases in six cities in the Central U.S. and the Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic region from Buffalo, N.Y. Despite difficult economic conditions, the company has grown to more than 120 shareowners in 2011, up from 95 shareowners in 2010 and 75 shareowners in 2009, thanks in large part to the popularity of the Embraer light jets, which offer superior performance and low direct operating costs.
Unlike traditional fractional models, which essentially operate as air taxi services ferrying multiple shareowners on any given day, Executive AirShare bases its aircraft in cities where its shareowners live and work, and makes each aircraft available on a “per day” basis, a model that most closely replicates the benefits of full ownership and enables owners to travel on the aircraft they actually own with pilots they know on a first-name basis.
“The nationals are simply not able to operate smaller aircraft profitably because of all the deadheading required by their business models,” said Robert D. Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Executive AirShare Taylor. “We offer superior service and value, and the Phenoms are a big reason for that.”
Executive AirShare serves shareowners in Kansas City, Mo., Wichita, Kan., Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Fort Worth and Dallas, and Buffalo, N.Y. Its subsidiary, Executive Flight Services, manages aircraft for owners from bases in Fort Worth, Dallas, Wichita, Kansas City and Buffalo.
Executive AirShare currently serves the Central U.S. and Great Lakes region, operating a fleet of Phenom 300 and 100, Beechjet 400A, King Air 350 and C90B aircraft and is the only established fractional aircraft ownership company to offer both the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 aircraft. Executive AirShare also offers aircraft management and charter services through its subsidiary, Executive Flight Services. For more information about Executive AirShare and its services, please visit www.execairshare.com.
Embraer S.A. (NYSE: ERJ; BM&FBOVESPA: EMBR3) is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jets up to 120 seats, and one of Brazil’s leading exporters. Embraer’s headquarters are located in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, and it has offices, industrial operations and customer service facilities in Brazil, China, France, Portugal, Singapore, and the U.S. Founded in 1969, the Company designs, develops, manufactures and sells aircraft and systems for the commercial aviation, executive aviation, and defense and security segments. It also provides after sales support and services to customers worldwide. On September 30, 2011, Embraer had a workforce of 17,204 employees – not counting the employees of its partially owned subsidiaries – and its firm order backlog totaled USD 16 billion.
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