Embraer Hands Over Milestone 400th Phenom 300 to EliteJets

Embraer Executive Jets has handed over the 400th Phenom 300 from its Melbourne, Florida facility. The milestone light jet, S/N 400, went to EliteJets, a new Naples, Florida-based air charter firm that plans to start on-demand service next month. EliteJets also took delivery of another Phenom 300, S/N 403, on the same day; its all-Embraer fleet now includes four of the light jets and one Legacy 500.

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Embraer's Phenom 300

"I think the 300 might be a home run."

“We are honored by EliteJets’ selection of Embraer aircraft and services to build its brand-new fleet," said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano. "The Phenom 300 and the Legacy 500 deliver comfort, performance, and low operating costs. We are confident that the aircraft will deliver solid business performance to EliteJets.”

EliteJets founder and CEO Daniel Randolph—who made his fortune by starting, and later selling, Personalization Mall—said that he decided to get into the air charter game after his personal experiences with flying charter. “Most charter outfits are using old airplanes, and its outrageous what is being charged to fly on newer aircraft such as Phenom 300s,” he said. “We can do better.”

The first Phenom 300 rolled off the production line in December 2009, and the light jet has been the bestselling business aircraft for the past four years. All Phenoms are now being assembled at the company’s Melbourne facility.