Piaggio has delivered the first Avanti Evo to come off the production line of its plant in Villanova d’Albenga (Savona province). Piaggio Aerospace CEO Renato Vaghi handed over the aircraft on October 7 to Sheikh Khalifa Al Saif, CEO and founder of the Al Saif Group, a real estate, trading and consulting conglomerate. 

Al Saif in July was named a commercial agent for marketing the Avanti Evo in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Iraq.

Al Saif Group, which will use the first Evo for charter and demonstration flights, recently signed an option for a second aircraft in medevac configuration. That aircraft is to be delivered next year. The agreements further cover a range of follow-on services, including training for pilots and maintenance technicians, an option for a parts support program and other maintenance provisions.

The delivery occurred nearly a year after Piaggio moved aircraft production from Genoa to the new plant. The company flew the first Evo to be produced in Villanova d’Albenga in August. The handover also followed reassurance by the company that it would remain in the commercial market as it picks up its military activity. Piaggio announced a leadership transition shortly after that reassurance.