EBACE Show News - May 21, 2008 - (Page 28)

EBACE 2008 Avanti Sales Shifting Away from the U.S. Piaggio Aero has certainly been hit by the falling dollar. In late 2005/early 2006 when the Avanti II was launched on the U.S. market, the aircraft was priced at $6.19 million with the euro worth $1.17. Today, with the Euro sitting at $1.57, the equivalent dollar price for an Avanti has soared to $8.3 million. This figure, Piaggio says, “is absolutely out of the market, but at the same time, if we sold the aircraft for $6.4 or $6.5 million we’d be losing money.” The result has been a more modest price increase with the inclusion of many equipment “options” and the Avanti’s new improved cabin from Nordam. The basic price for what Piaggio calls a “richly-equipped” P.180 Avanti II stands at USD6.995 million—for a CAT II aircraft with full VIP interior, RVSM, full day/night IFR and known icing clearances. Piaggio is also looking to win more customers who will pay in euros, and who understand that they get a better deal by doing so. “Outside the U.S., in Europe and the rest of the world, we have found that everyone understands the difficulties with the dollar and how the euro area suffers as a result. Customers are more willing options. But it’s a tough period for everyone,” says the company. New customers for the Avanti are coming from the Middle East, India, the CIS states and Ukraine says Piaggio, adding, “expressions of interest away from the traditional markets have become a lot hotter.” Piaggio Aero’s current orders are split roughly 70:30 between North America and the rest of the world. On current trends Piaggio says that ratio will soon be 50:50, with the non-U.S. market perhaps taking a slight lead before too long. The Avanti II order book stands at 111 aircraft: 79 for North America, 23 for Europe, six for the Middle East and three in China. Over the coming weeks and months Piaggio will start deliveries to China and Jordan. The six Jordanian aircraft, ordered at the 2007 Paris Air Show, will be handed over to Saraya Private Aviation for charter operations across the Middle East and North Africa. In September 2007 Piaggio took orders for three Avantis from Sino Europe Aircraft Ltd—one for border patrol authorities and two for the Beijing PanAm International Aviation Academy. —Robert Hewson Buyers with euros are getting a better deal. to pay in euros because we can offer better terms and conditions to them, and include more Piaggio: No Jets Just Yet? Piaggio is going to keep us guessing a while longer about its plans to introduce a new business jet. Back in 2006 Piaggio Aero boss Josè Di Mase remarked that 2007 might see the launch of his new jet aircraft, but as EBACE ‘Still working on our jet.’ says Di Mase. 2008 comes around nothgio’s bizjet concept and the basic ing much has happened. At least market assumptions. Piaggio is in public. Di Mase says Piaggio’s thought to be looking at two jet plans are still very real, but their potential aircraft concepts—one time has not yet come. smaller than the Avanti, and one “We are still working on our jet larger—with a view to launching concept, we are fine-tuning the just a single program. Work is design and the technology that proceeding under the company we plan to use. There are no designation P.1XX, but Di Mase major problems in our way, but won’t say what cabin class, the time is not right to make any number of seats or level of per‘unofficial’ announcements,” formance will emerge. Di Mase told Show News on the “A lot of our competitors are eve of EBACE. out there announcing aircraft that Without saying what they actuaren’t ready yet. We will do it ally are, Di Mase notes there when the time is right,” he says. have been no changes to Piag—Robert Hewson Airport au Castellet Has That Riviera Touch The first private airport on the French Riviera, Le Castellet International, is being showcased at EBACE at Booth 1059. Located between Marseille and Nice, Le Castellet can accommodate business aircraft up to BBJ size and is open 24/7. With FBO, handling and customs and Brigade de Gendarmerie des Transports Aériens, it also boasts top-of-the-range security thanks to a sophisticated electronic surveillance system. A new 5,500-square-meter hangar, due for completion this month, can accommodate two jets of BBJ size. 28 May 21, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EBACE Show News - May 21, 2008

A318 Elite is on a Roll A Circle Around London P&WC Deliveries Triple Avanti Sees Sales Shift RUAG Eyes Needy Cabins Global Gets Even NICEr Embraer Beefs Up Support Honeywell ‘Virtual VFR’ Signature Europe Grows Gestair Seeks to Double Aero-Dienst Turns 50 Gama Doubles in Size All is Not Woe with Oil Ocean Sky is Aggressive

EBACE Show News - May 21, 2008

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