Cessna's 1st European Deliveries of XLS+ Go to Lufthansa

(Geneva, Switzerland, May 12, 2009) -- Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has delivered two Citation XLS+ business jets to Lufthansa, the first deliveries of the model to a European customer.

The aircraft have entered service alongside two Citation CJ3s and one CJ1+ in the Lufthansa Private Jet fleet, which provides point-to-point flights among 1,000 destinations in Europe and Russia. The Private Jet service also offers customers of Lufthansa and SWISS International Air Lines long-haul flights exclusive, seamless travel to onward regional airports.


Three further CJ1+ aircraft are scheduled for delivery to Lufthansa later this year. Two will join the Lufthansa Private Jet fleet, while the other is to be used within Lufthansa's pilot training program.

"We are delighted that Lufthansa has selected the XLS+, CJ3 and CJ1+ for its Private Jet fleet, as this underlines the suitability of Citations to intensive commercial service throughout Europe," said Trevor Esling, Cessna's vice president for International Sales.

"We are the only airline in the world to operate a successful private jet service alongside our portfolio of scheduled flights offering peerless flexibility and exclusivity," said Dr. Karsten Benz, vice president Sales & Services Europe, Lufthansa. "With our new Cessna airplanes, we are once again setting the pace within one of aviation's niche growth areas in Europe."

Source : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)