Has Options For 16 More In Deal Potentially Worth Over $500 Million

Dassault Falcon announced Thursday that National Air Services (NAS) of Saudi Arabia has entered into a pre-purchase agreement for as many as 20 Falcon 2000LXs. The deal includes four firm orders and 16 options, and is expected to be finalized this summer.

With a potential value of over $500 million, the deal would mark one of the largest purchase of business jets in the region. Deliveries should start in the third quarter of 2008 and then take place over the next six years.

"We are very proud to have been chosen by NAS, the leading provider of aviation services in the Middle East, and are confident that this addition to their current fleet will help them meet the growing demand for private aviation in the region," said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. "Only one month after the official launch of the Falcon 2000LX program, NAS's intention to purchase 20 aircraft shows the great potential of this new airplane in the large cabin business jets' segment."

Announced at the European Business Aviation Association in Geneva last May, the Falcon 2000LX is based on the current Falcon 2000EX. Company officials state it will feature a range of 4,000 nautical miles at Mach .80 and a "best-in-class" speed to 41,000 feet in just 18 minutes. The 2000LX will also come standard with the award-winning EASy flight deck which has won high marks of praise for its integrated features and intuitive displays.

"The Falcon 2000LX is ideally suited to the Middle East market," said Taher Agueel, Chief Executive Officer of NAS, "the range increase of this new Falcon 2000 version will give our customers more capability and more efficiency on their typical trips".

The Falcon 2000LX will be able to connect Dubai, Jeddah or Riyadh to London, according to company officials, and will also be capable to combine multiple-city trips in the region on the same day. It will be powered by the same Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C engines as the 2000EX and the 2000EX EASy.

National Air Services (NAS) operates four distinct strategic business units, offering its customers non-traditional, total solutions to meet their various aviation needs. The company is the Middle East representative of NetJets, offering fractional ownership and leasing options, and has for the past six years, been providing this service along with full portfolio of aircraft management services solutions.

FMI: www.dassaultfalcon.com, www.nasaviation.com