Flexjet Signs $7bn Order For Embraer Jets

Fractional jet operator Flexjet has signed a purchase agreement with Embraer Executive Jets. This new agreement, representing the largest order for both companies, includes a firm order of 182 aircraft and options on 30 additional jets, and an enhanced suite of services and support.

Praetors and Phenoms

The order includes the Praetor 600, Praetor 500 and Phenom 300E models, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. Flexjet has been operating these types of aircraft for several years, and says the majority of this new order will be the larger Praetors. 

The super-midsize Embraer Praetor 600 has a passenger capacity of up to 9 and a maximum range of over 4,000 nm. The cabin has a full refreshment center, wet galley and a microwave oven.

The Embraer Praetor 500 midsize business jet has seating for up to 8 passengers and a maximum range of 3,340 nm. While the cabin includes a full refreshment center and microwave oven.

The Phenom 300 light jet has seating for up to 7 passengers, a maximum range of just under 2,000 nm, and the cabin includes a full refreshment center. New York to Aspen or Houston to Palm Beach are examples of the possible range.

"We are delighted with Flexjet's renewed commitment to Embraer through this comprehensive purchase agreement, which strengthens even further our strategic partnership of over 20 years," said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. "We are excited to continue offering Flexjet's customers access to our market-leading Phenom jets and our Praetor jets, the best in their respective categories."

Long Time Partners

The partnership between Embraer and Flexjet dates back to 2003, when Flight Options, which merged with Flexjet in 2015, became the first fractional ownership program to introduce the Legacy executive jet – the predecessor to the Praetor.

Furthermore, Flexjet has a history of being the first fleet customer for multiple Embraer products – the Legacy Executive in 2003 (noted above), the Phenom 300 in 2010, the Legacy 450 in 2016, and the Praetor 500 / Praetor 600 in 2019. In addition, Flexjet has helped Embraer to reach key milestones, such as the delivery of the 100th Phenom 300 in 2012 and the 1,000th Embraer executive jet, a Legacy 500, in 2016. These aircraft have broken barriers in their respective classes, with the Phenom 300 being the most delivered light business jet in the world for 12 consecutive years, according to numbers released by GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturing Association). The Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 were both the first fly-by-wire aircraft in Flexjet's fleet, offering performance capabilities of larger aircraft with midsized economics.

"Now in our 30th year at Flexjet, it seems fitting to extend our rewarding and long-term relationship with Embraer with this historic firm order. Since 2003, we have accepted delivery of more than 150 Embraer aircraft," said Michael Silvestro, CEO of Flexjet. "Both the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 are high performers in the Flexjet fleet. Praetor 600 was so well accepted in Europe, we opted to include it in our North American fleet in 2023, extending our Embraer fleet across two continents. And as the first fractional provider of the Praetor 500, our maintenance technicians and our pilots are intimately familiar with the aircraft and are looking forward to the continued growth of this fleet."

In addition to the Embraer aircraft, Flexjet also operates the ultra-long range Gulfstream G650 and large cabin Gulfstream G450, the super-mid Bombardier Challenger 350/3500 and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters.