Textron Aviation's Citation Latitude has received certification from EASA and deliveries are now underway in the region. "We are thrilled to offer the Latitude to our European customers," says senior VP of sales and marketing Kriya Shortt. "This aircraft is ideally suited for this market and can provide customers non-stop access to key destinations throughout the continent as well as north Africa and the Middle East. Customer input was a key driver in the development of the Latitude, which brings the amenities of large cabin aircraft at a midsize acquisition price and best-in-class operating costs."

With a maximum range of 2,850 nm, the aircraft can fly non-stop on routes such as Lisbon to Moscow. It also recently received certification to operate into and out of La Mole airport, a popular vacation destination in St. Tropez, France. 

VP of sales for EMEA Tom Perry says that this short field performance gives the aircraft a significant advantage: "This is a very big aircraft to be cleared to use La Mole, and the combination of short airfield performance and an ability to perform steep approaches makes the jet very usable for private owners and commercial operators alike."

Throughout the past year, three Latitude demonstrator aircraft have been on a worldwide tour, travelling to more than 20 countries and stopping at major industry trade shows such as EBACE and Dubai Airshow. Its cabin has a flat floor and is six feet high, and its pressurisation allows for a cabin altitude of 5,950 feet while cruising at 45,000 feet. Continues Perry: "We have actually delivered two European aircraft, and the third one is in Wichita and will be delivered this month, so everything has gone very smoothly indeed. The aircraft has been well-received wherever we have shown it, and we have been flying it on and off since September. We had a short tour last September, we had another one in December, and then we will be bringing it again to Europe in April and doing a few stops on a tour prior to Aero Friedrichshafen.

"Interestingly, the first few orders that we have got have come from the eastern edge of Europe, countries like Poland and Turkey. But I believe that there will be a very strong uptake in the traditional markets such as Germany, UK, Benelux and France as well."