Aircraft
Avanti gains traction as Piaggio develops a jet
Piaggio Aero (Booth No.

Piaggio Aero (Booth No. 1325) took a bold stance during the recession to broaden worldwide recognition of its P180 Avanti II twin turboprop, according to John Bingham, president and CEO of Piaggio America and chief marketing officer for Piaggio Aero. “It paid off for us,” Bingham told AIN. Potential buyers who might not have considered purchasing an Avanti have added the turboprop to their shopping lists, he said. “The brand is more known now. We’re seeing a good level of interest.”

There are more than 200 Avantis worldwide, split evenly between North America and the rest of the world. In the U.S., 55 are owned by fractional-share operator Avantair, which, according to Bingham, expects to add six to eight more this year.