Dassault Aviation highlighted the growing popularity of its Falcon business jets among Southeast Asian operators at the 2016 Indonesian Business & Charter Aviation Summit (IBCAS).

Now in its second edition, the two-day biennial event opened in Jakarta yesterday, with a host on local, regional and international delegates in attendance.

Falcon Jets are tailor made for the demanding operating conditions of the region, in particular their great versatility, their airport performance and their unique long/short haul capability, which allows them to make a quick hop to a nearby destination with a full load of fuel before continuing on to a far off destination in Europe, Africa or the Americas, Dassault Aviation says.

This is particularly true of Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands spanning a distance greater than the continental US for which aviation is the only feasible means of travel. Although commercial aviation is quite developed, many destinations are under served and hard to get to except by private jet, it points out.

There are already a large number of small to medium sized business aircraft serving the Indonesian market, but operators are more and more eager to move up to large cabin and longer range jets. Indonesia is currently the fastest growing business aviation market in Southeast Asia, with a double-digit growth rate, and the second fleet in the region after Singapore, it adds.

“We see enormous potential for our new Falcon 8X in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, the region’s largest economy,” says Jean-Michel Jacob, President of the Dassault Aviation subsidiary for Asia Pacific. “Indonesian business community has substantial domestic and overseas travel requirements. Operating business jet gives them more flexibility and allows them to make more efficient use of their time.”

More than 100 Falcons are currently in service in Southeast Asia and the Asia/Pacific region, including all in-production models, from the very long range Falcon 7X to the Falcon 2000LXS/S widebody twins and the long range 900LX. These aircraft will be joined soon by the Falcon 8X ultra long range trijet, which was awarded US and European Aviation Safety Agency certification in June and will enter into service in the coming weeks.

The 6,450 nm/11,945 km Falcon 8X will feature the same advanced technologies and exceptional short-field performance, operating economy and quietness as the revolutionary Falcon 7X from which it is derived. It will also offer the longest cabin of any Falcon and the largest selection of standard cabin configurations on any large business jet, including an optional shower capability. 

The 8X will connect cities like Jakarta and Singapore to most destinations in Europe non stop. Moreover, the aircraft’s three engine design will permit it to fly more direct routes over water, meaning even greater time savings for business travellers. 

To ensure optimum support for its growing fleet, Dassault continues to reinforce its after sales support network in Southeast Asia. It recently expanded spares capacity at its Singapore warehouse, helping boost regional inventory to nearly $35 million, including the top 3,500 top demand parts for in production aircraft.