Smart Air Orders Eight Personal Jets, Options On More

Smart Air S.A. announced Friday the first fractional ownership company to utilize the single-engine Diamond D-Jet. The European company has made an initial purchase of eight aircraft, and has secured options for more thereafter with deliveries to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

"We have designed the D-Jet to be an affordable personal light jet to make jet travel attainable to more people. Smart Air's fractional ownership solution is a good complement to our product, as it leverages the D-Jet's strengths, including its roomy cabin and low operating cost, to further broaden access to jet travel," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft. "We are pleased that Smart Air has selected the D-Jet as the aircraft for its fleet."

Established in Luxembourg, Smart Air says it plans to operate its fleet across Europe, with offices initially in Finland, UK, France, Benelux, Germany and Italy, enabling its co-owners economical, comfortable and personalized jet access to 1,835 Smart Airports throughout the continent with guaranteed availability.

"Smart Air's vision is to extend mostly to non-pilot, private individuals, families, and businesses, a better way to travel across Europe -- combining the speed, safety and comfort of personal jet service delivered in new and even more economical way for hassle-free, flexible travel," said Stéphane Ledermann, Founder and CEO of Smart Air S.A. "The D-Jet is the ideal aircraft to enable this vision to be realized. This aircraft and our scalable, easy-to-use approach will truly provide each of our co-owners the smartest offer sized to their needs so they can spend their time doing what they find most important."

Smart Air began offering fractional ownership shares in its fleet of D-Jet aircraft with its announcement and presence at the Eur-Avia Aviation Exhibition.

FMI: www.smartair.aero, www.diamondair.com