"People Are Continuing To Buy Airplanes"

Ready for some optimistic news about the economy, for a change? A top Cessna exec predicts the downturn in demand for business jets is nearing its bottom.

Roger Whyte, Cessna's senior VP for sales and marketing, told the Wichita Eagle Monday, "We continue to take orders; people are continuing to buy airplanes; we continue to deliver airplanes."

Whyte made his comments following a ceremony to deliver two Citation XLS+ seven-passenger business jets to Lufthansa Private Jet in Europe. Whyte says they'll be used to fly to places not served by the airlines. Lufthansa Private Jet says it will be the first commercial operator of the type in Europe.

Claudio Peer is the COO of Lufthansa's Swiss Private Aviation. He was in Wichita to pick up the keys, and noted the recent scarcity of delivery ceremonies. "Taking delivery of aircraft in these times is really very special," he said.

Whyte also urged a broad perspective in evaluating the marketplace. He noted that while 2009 business jet numbers will undoubtedly fall below last year's roughly 1,300 deliveries, it will still be well above the 300-to-400-per-year figures of the 1980s and '90s.

Whyte also observed that the recession has been good news for some position-holders who want to move up on the waiting list, and that Cessna is managing the credit crunch.

"...Aircraft are generally a very good asset because of the value, and we are able to find financing for our customers," he said.

An upswing in sales can't come soon enough for Cessna, or the business and general aviation markets as a whole. As ANN reported Monday, Cessna CEO Jack Pelton announced last week the company would trim production of all current Citation jets (save the Mustang) and slow development of its upcoming flagship, the Citation Columbus large jet.

FMI: www.cessna.com