NetJets announces $9.6 bn aircraft order

NetJets, the shared-ownership US aircraft company, on Monday announced $9.6 billion in aircraft orders from Cessna and its Canadian rival Bombardier. NetJets said the order could go up to 275 aircraft from Bombardier and 150 from Cessna, a unit of US firm Textron. It billed it the "largest private aviation order in history." The order "reflects confidence" in the US economy and "further expands NetJets's state-of-the-art, advanced delivery of services for owners," the company said. "These aircraft will be devoted to our US and European fleets," said NetJets chief executive Jordan Hansell. NetJets, controlled by tycoon Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway investment company, has a diversified fleet of 13 private jet types, including aircraft from Cessna, Hawker, Dassault and Gulfstream. Last year NetJets ordered 50 Bombardier private jets, with options to buy 70 more.