Fractional-share provider NetJets Europe (Booth 6656) expects to receive its first new Bombardier Challenger 350, built to the specifications of NetJets’s Signature Series, in mid-2015. NetJets U.S. will begin taking deliveries of the model this summer. Additional aircraft on order are planned for delivery over the next few years.

The Challenger 350 will comfortably seat nine passengers, said Marine Eugene-Beveridge, head of sales at NetJets Europe, here at EBACE 2014. “It is ideal for our European customers with its reach not only across the continent, but with easy access from London to even farther-afield destinations, such as Tel Aviv and Lagos.” The 38,850-pound mtow super-midsize jet will have a range of 3,065 nm and more than seven hours of flight time. Its maximum speed is Mach 0.82 and maximum operating altitude 45,000 feet.

NetJets worked closely with Bombardier to build the Signature Series to its customers’ specifications for the cabin interior and technical and performance characteristics. The aircraft features larger windows, an HD wireless entertainment system, upgraded avionics, a wider wingspan and improved engine and efficiency features.

Shares of the Challenger 350 Signature Series have been available for pre-sale in the U.S. market for the last year, and nine whole airplanes have already been sold. “We have accelerated our delivery schedule with Bombardier after selling through our initial allotment sooner than expected,” said Eugene-Beveridge. “With this uptake in the U.S., we are enthusiastic with the opening of the Challenger 350 for pre-sale to our European customers.”

The Signature Series Challenger 350 is part of NetJets’s plan to add up to 670 new aircraft with a total value of $17.6 billion over 10 years. In addition to the Challenger 350, Global 6000 and Embraer Phenom, the company will be adding the Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 and Cessna Citation Latitude.

Founded in 1996, NetJets Europe, the marketing agent of NetJets Transportes Aéreos (an EU air carrier), is said to be the only pan-European business aviation company with its own fleet. NTA was the first business jet operator to be awarded the IATA Operational Safety Audit certificate. NetJets Europe employs more than 1,300 people and operates more than 130 aircraft. o