Brazil-based major aerospace group Embraer announced on Friday that it had concluded a deal with US private jet company NetJets for options on up to 250 Praetor 500 midsize business jets. The deal has a value of more than $5-billion and delivery of the aircraft will start in 2025.

NetJets has operated Embraer’s Phenom 300 small-size business jets for more than a decade. Between 2010 and 2021, NetJets acquired more than 100 Phenom 300s, and then, in the latter year, placed an order for up to another 100 Phenom 300Es, worth more than $1.2-billion, which are now being produced by Embraer.

“Since 2010, Embraer has enjoyed NetJets’ ongoing commitment to our industry-leading aircraft, which is a true testament to the value of our brand and our ability to deliver the ultimate experience in business aviation,” highlighted Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano. “Our strategic partnership has been an integral part of our business growth, with NetJets taking all aircraft delivery options that have been ordered with Embraer since inception. After building this successful foundation with the Phenom 300 series, it’s our pleasure to have now signed this monumental deal for the Praetor 500 midsize jet, and we look forward to an even more exciting future ahead.”

“We are eager to add the Embraer Praetor 500, one of today’s most state-of-the-art business jets, to our midsize fleet,” affirmed NetJets aircraft asset management executive VP Doug Henneberry. “This historic fleet agreement is another way that we are growing our fleet for the benefit of our loyal customers. By adding up to 250 aircraft to our fleet, we will continue providing NetJets' owners with exceptional service and seamless access to all corners of the globe.”

Embraer states that the Praetor 500 has the tallest and widest cabin in the midsize business jet category and that the cabin is pressurised to the lowest altitude in this segment. It can fly from one coast of the US to the other coast without refuelling and is the only aircraft in its category with full fly-by-wire flight controls.

Embraer Executive Jets currently offers four models in two families. The small-size Phenom family now comprises the Phenom 100EV, the smallest type in the range, and the Phenom 300E. Its midsize family comprises the Praetor 500 and the larger Praetor 600.

In other Embraer news, earlier this week Embraer Defence & Space inaugurated its production line for Saab Gripen E and Gripen F fighters (known to the Brazilian Air Force as the F-39) at Gavião Peixoto, in São Paulo state. This is the only Gripen production line outside Sweden. The Brazilian Air Force currently has 28 Gripen Es and eight two-seat Gripen Fs on order, of which the first few, manufactured in Sweden, have already been delivered. A follow-up order is expected, for up to 30 more, in due course.