Egypt's Smart Aviation has ordered five Citation Sovereigns for delivery through 2009. The Cairo-based business jet charter operator, part-owned by EgyptAir, launched in 2007 with one Sovereign.

Smart Aviation ceo Sameh Anwar says: "Smart Aviation is Egypt's first corporate jet operator to cater to businessmen, politicians and for personal and executive air travel. The Sovereign has proved to be ideally suited to our customers' needs." Anwar says positives include the spacious cabin, significant stowage capacity "and APU that allows air conditioned comfort on the apron, independent of ground power."

Separately Wallan Aviation ordered 11 Citation business jets and 14 single engine aircraft. The order includes four Mustangs, one CJ2+, one CJ3, one XLS+, three Sovereigns and one Citation X. The aircraft will be delivered during 2008, 2009 and 2010. Wallan Aviation, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is Cessna's authorised sales representative for the Middle East. "We are seeing considerable interest from a new generation of entrepreneurial owners who are attracted to Cessna's combination of performance and value," said Saad Wallan, chairman, Wallan Aviation.