• Airbus Showing Slice of a Behemoth With A380 Superjumbo Cross-Section
• Boeing's Purchase of Hughes Presages A Major Change in Company Emphasis
• Business (Jets) Still Booming, And For Many Strong Reasons
• Expanded Matra BAe Dynamics Claims World No. 2 Status
• Civil Products Emphasis Increases Dassault Revenues
• It's a Strange New NATO and It Will Make or Break the Gripen
• Alitalia Creates Separate Engineering & Maintenance Business Unit
• Bombardier Jets Set Eight FAI Marks As They Wing Their Way to Le Bourget
• U.S. Army Launches Black Hawk Upgrade
• UAVs Step Up to Paris Plate
• Shrinking Defense Budgets Threaten Eurofighter Export Prospects
• Salyut to Benefit from Engine Demand As Russians Increase Fighter Exports
• Airbus Arrives in 21st Century As a True Aero Industry Giant
• Bell Scores Big in Latin America Market
• Bedek Aviation Group Forecasts $520 Million Sales
• Sonic Cruiser Said Something NEW
• Lockheed Martin JSF Works to Fan the Competition
• Avro RJX Takes to the Air
• AIA Forecasts $1.6 Billion Gain for U.S. Aerospace in 2001
• Boeing Bids for ATM Primacy
• Boeing Unveils New JSF-Derived Gun
• Boeing Mulls All Out War with Sonic Cruiser
• Sukhoi Combat Aircraft Critical To New Russian Export Strategy
• EADS and Northrop Grumman Team On New Louisiana Maintenance Base
• Chasing New Orders, Boeing Eyes Faster Production
• Honeywell Falcon 50/40 Certified, Anheuser Busch Contract Inked
• United Frax Orders 100 Falcons

United Frax Orders 100 Falcons

United Airlines' parent UAL Corp's newly launched foray into fractional jet ownership has signed its first aircraft order, for up to 100 Dassault Falcon Jets worth $2.5 billion.

The letter of intent includes 40 firm orders and 60 options. The firm orders are for 30 Falcon 2000s or 2000EXs, and ten Falcon 900EXs. The options are for 50 Falcon 2000EXs and ten Falcon 900EXs.

"We're delighted to be a member of the Falcon family," said Stuart I. Oran, president of United BizJets Holdings, at the Paris Air Show. "The order demonstrates our commitment to provide only the best to our customers."

United expects to take delivery of its first Falcon 2000 before the end of 2002. Falcons are expected to constitute around one-third of UAL's fractional fleet, which Oran hopes to grow to 200 aircraft by 2006.

Sources say United also is in discussions with General Dynamics regarding new Gulfstream business jets, but an order had not been confirmed as Show News went to press.

Ultimately, United BizJets is expected to offer shares in a full range of business jets, from the midsize Raytheon Hawker-class to the Boeing Business Jet.

Commenting on the Falcon purchase at Le Bourget, Dassault Chairman Charles Edelstenne, said, "We're very excited to be a part of UAL's new venture. We believe their commitment is a very positive development for the business jet industry."

By Paul Richfield