Cessna managing downturn; foresees market recovery soon
No one has had it easy in business aviation these past six months, and Cessna has certainly had its share of knocks with enforced reductions in production

No one has had it easy in business aviation these past six months, and Cessna has certainly had its share of knocks with enforced reductions in production capacity and a sudden decision to suspend development of its new Columbus model. But the U.S. airframer believes that it and the rest of the industry are about to turn the corner into more encouraging economic times.

 “In 2008, we delivered 467 jets, reported revenues of $5.7 billion and thought we would be delivering 500 jets in 2009,” said Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, CEO and president, at the company’s EBACE press conference yesterday morning. “Instead we’ll probably deliver between 290 and 300 jets. We may be a little disappointed, but we have a backlog worth $13 billion and 2009 will still be a very good year.”