Most of us desire to leave a legacy, and companies strive to create a lasting influence that will resonate not only with the current generation but with future ones as well. Embraer Executive Jets (Embraer) has tackled its own aviation legacy with a range of aircraft that has made a considerable impact on business aviation since it first entered this particular market. Its Legacy family comprises the 600 series, the 500 and most recently the 450.

The 600 and the 650 were variants on a regional jet, given a high end business aviation interior rather than a commercial one, whereas the 500 and 450 have a clean-sheet design. The 650 is a long range business jet with standing room, an extended range derivative of the super-midsize 600. There are around 280 Legacy 600s and 650s in operation around the world, but the main markets are in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Around 30 Legacy 500s have been delivered into fleets around the world since type certification in 2014, three of which are in the EBAN region, and the first 450s have rolled off the production line. The electronics are high tech and the interior space is impressive, so here at EBAN we thought we would look at the Legacy family, and talk to some of the owners and operators to get their views on the aircraft.

What's in a name?

“The Legacy name was the result of a branding exercise that drew on the airframe's DNA of commercial aviation,” says Peter Griffith, senior vice president sales, Europe, CIS and Africa at Embraer. “It had an excellent track record in a demanding operational environment, proving to be suitable for high utilisation and delivering high reliability, low maintenance requirements and low operating costs, but with plenty of cabin and baggage space. So the airship was baptised the Legacy, honouring its achievements in commercial air service and projecting its success in business aviation, which demands high aircraft availability, ample space for passengers and all their luggage, premium comfort and performance characteristics that not only meet mission requirements, but also address the bottom line of the corporate balance sheet.”

So what's to like…?

Mike Ulka, COO of Germany-based Air Hamburg, was pleased to talk about 'his precious Legacy fleet': “As of now we have a fleet of three 600s and three 650s, the third of which was picked up in November 2015 in Recife, Brazil, and flown to Hamburg via Gran Canaria. In March we will pick up our fourth 650, bringing the Legacy fleet to seven. We like the three cabin zone, the huge and pressurised baggage compartment which is accessible during flight, the economic operating costs and the high dispatch reliability.” This latter feature is achieved because the 600 series is based on the Embraer 135, operated for scheduled flights by many major airlines.

Air Hamburg conducts charter business throughout Europe, Asia and north Africa, which is well met by the Legacy's range of 6-7,000 km. And with its high baggage volume and seating for up to 13 passengers, Ulka says: “This mix of advantages is only offered for a reasonable price by Embraer.”

Oliver Stone, managing director of London-based aircraft sales brokers Colibri Aircraft, says its popularity is based “in short, on its flexibility of aircraft sales brokerage. The 600 has a great cabin and tremendous baggage room, so it allows the flexibility to take extra people at the last minute without having to scramble to find another aircraft with extra seats. It is a versatile machine, reliable, and does the overwhelming majority of trips without any problem.

“All of the aircraft we are dealing with are based in Europe. The owners are a diverse group with business all over the MENA region. They are active and fly globally, predominantly for private use.”

Captain Sakeer Sheik, md of Dubai-based Titan Aviation also identifies the three zone cabin space, the aircraft's range and its stand-up cabin as features that particularly stand out for him. One of his customers has recently upgraded to the 650 from a 600 because of its new generation avionics and longer range.

The first European delivery of an EASA registered 450 was to Luxembourg-based Smart Air SA on behalf of a client, and is operated by ASL/JetNetherlands Group, formed by the merger of Belgian and Dutch business jet operators ASL and JetNetherlands.

ASL CEO Philippe Bodson says: “We now have the second 450 to be delivered worldwide, but this is the first and only one to be operated commercially in Europe. Currently we are only flying on behalf of the owner, but we are expecting the aircraft to be approved for charter operations any time now.”

Delivery took place towards the end of December 2015 and the aircraft is to be made available for charter flights from its base of operations in Brussels, Belgium. The Legacy 450 joins a new 650 which has replaced a pre-owned 600.

“Being driven by innovation for more than 25 years helps me to address the business aviation management and advisory role with a new approach for the benefit of my customer,” says Stéphane Ledermann, Smart Air founder and CEO. “We recommended the Legacy 450 to our client long before all the very positive reports from pilots and journalists, and we are convinced that this aircraft will be very successful.”

Size matters

“Our Legacy 600 is quite a unique aircraft in its category. As a super mid-size, it's one of the largest and most spacious which gives us, as an operator, several advantages because we have more to offer our clients,” says Simon Roussos, accountable manager at Athens, Greece-based GainJet Aviation. “The size of the aircraft makes it appealing and I believe this was one of the fundamental reasons this aircraft was chosen by the owner. It's generally good value for money, considering what you're getting.”

Paras Dhamecha, executive director at Empire Aviation Group (EAG) in Dubai agrees: “The acquisition cost offers good value for money relative to the range and space of the 600 series. And since the 650 was launched, it has provided that extra range to accommodate more direct routes to Europe from the aircraft base in Dubai, which was not possible with the 600.”

EAG took on a factory-new 650 on behalf of an existing client towards the end of 2015, the first of its type to be offered to the Middle Eastern charter market. “With the 650,” says Dhamecha, “we have transited the owner from private use only to a model including charter, as the demand for larger business jets grows in this sector.”

Julie Black, UK head of VIP passenger charter at Chapman Freeborn Airchartering says: “Firstly, size is everything. We do a lot of air charter to the entertainment industry and a music group of ten to 12 passengers on a month plus tour of Europe does not travel light. With a cavernous baggage hold that can take up to 50 pieces of various sizes, or up to 450 kg, the Legacy 600 has the payload and volume to carry the required amount of luggage. That is twice as much as a Challenger 604, and 50 per cent greater than a GIV.

“Also, the Legacy is a newer type of aircraft, even the earlier ones are only about ten years old whereas the older GIVs were manufactured in the late 1980s and mid 1990s. Newer means quieter engines and hence the largest Legacy can creep into airports late at night, when older, noisier aircraft are excluded.”

Motivated by performance, safety, technology and comfort

Bodson explains: “The 450 was selected by us, with help from Luxembourg-based Smart Air, to replace a Cessna Citation XLS+. The owner wanted an aircraft with a quiet, spacious and comfortable cabin; nine seats; better take-off and landing performance; better in-flight connectivity and entertainment systems, all in the mid-size family.

“We looked at the 450 and the Latitude, and even the 500, a stretched version of the 450. The owner tested the aircraft and he straight away decided to go for the 450 as it had everything he was looking for, especially cabin comfort and quietness. Embraer exceeded all expectations in terms of performance and features, whereas we felt Cessna did not really offer a truly innovative clean-sheet design, the Latitude being a derivation of the Sovereign model and not certified in Europe yet.

“With the 650, the owner wanted essentially a newer version of the same aircraft as the one he had already, the 600, but with increased range and a personalised choice of cabin design. His 600 had been a pre-owned aircraft, and since the 650 offers improved performances and features over the 600, he made his choice quite quickly.”

Founder and CEO of Malta-based Emperor Aviation Irakli Litanishvili suggests: “If we speak about the 'character' of the Legacy 600, the aircraft has surely been created for practical people. It boasts an ideal balance between flight characteristics, cabin and luggage compartment dimensions, cost and operational expenses. Our experience has proven that with the reasonable price of the aircraft, its maintenance and refuelling costs are the most optimal among its peers.

“Moreover, the Legacy 600 offers a huge advantage for those travellers going on a long vacation – the most spacious luggage compartment in its class. Emperor Aviation passengers have never had problems transporting large quantities of luggage using our Legacy. In fact on one of our flights we were able to carry almost 70 pieces in the luggage compartment.”

So, lots of room for bags. But for the passengers? Colibri's Stone says: “In reality, the only real downside to the Legacy 600 series is the headroom. It is a large aircraft with a big ramp presence. Clients approach it and see a large plane and have large aircraft expectations. Once they step inside and experience a cabin height that is lower than that of some competitors, they instantly remember it. Even with the dropped aisle, it is still shorter than clients are expecting.”

While the Legacys meet and indeed outperform many of the design targets set for them, Stone adds that: “Buyers of aircraft always want more range, so this is a wish list item that is common to almost every aircraft type.”

What sets the new Legacy jets apart?

The 500 is a medium jet seating up to ten passengers costing US$20m. Brazil's Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC) certified the 500 in August 2014, and subsequently it received certification from the US, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

It has a six-foot flat floor cabin with eight club seats which can be berthed into four beds. Its in-flight entertainment system comprises a high definition video system, surround sound, multiple audio and video input options, a cabin management system and three options for voice communications and connectivity. It has a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite on four 15-inch high resolution LCD displays allowing graphical flight planning, and has options such as paperless operations capability, auto brakes, and the E2VS (Embraer Enhanced Vision System) which includes a head up display and enhanced video system.

It can fly at 45,000 feet and is powered by two advanced, fuel-efficient Honeywell HTF7500E engines that are claimed to be the greenest in their class. Taking off from airfields as short as 4,084 feet, it has a range of 3,125 nm with four passengers, including NBAA IFR fuel reserves, so can fly non-stop LA to Honolulu or Teterboro to London.

The 450 is in the mid-light jet category and has received type certification from aviation agencies in Brazil, the US and in Europe. It can hold up to eight passengers, fly for 2,300 nm and costs around US$16.6m. It is powered by two Honeywell HTF 7500E turbofan engines and has an in-flight accessible 45 cubic foot of internal baggage space and 110 cubic foot of external baggage area, with optional heating. The total baggage space is the largest in the aircraft's category.

It is the latest addition to the growing mid-light jet market. It received its EASA certification in the summer of 2015, and its initial range of 2,575 nautical miles was increased to 2,900 nm, announced during the NBAA event in Las Vegas in November, which represents non-stop flight from Europe to the Middle East or to central Africa at a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.83 while cruising at a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, above 95 per cent of most weather hazards.

To reach this new range there will be some minor modifications to the wing to allow it to accommodate more fuel. Modifications will also encompass updates to the fuel control unit (FCU), avionics and aircraft flight manuals. The increased range will be retrofittable for the first aircraft serial numbers assembled without this extra fuel tank capacity.

The 500 and the 450 have a normal cruise speed of Mach 0.82, which is very close to the maximum operating speed of Mach 0.83. Embraer explains that the efficiency of the engines is so great that the Legacys can operate at high speeds without compromising fuel economy.

The 450 is a clean-sheet aircraft and this concept allowed Embraer to incorporate many innovations in the aircraft.

It has the largest cabin in its class at 1.83 m tall, 6.83 m long and 2.08 m wide with a flat floor. It also features enhanced connectivity systems and amenities for greater passenger comfort as well as a complete lavatory with vanity and wardrobe at the rear of the aircraft. Its fully integrated avionics system gives the crew an unparalleled level of situational awareness of the aircraft and its systems, and is the first in its class to feature digital flight controls with full fly-by-wire technology, which until recently were only present on commercial airliners and a few large/intercontinental business jets.

Fly-by-wire enhances passenger comfort and safety by providing fully automated digital flight controls to the crew that are continuously monitored by the aircraft. This system also provides complete flight envelope protection, which improves safety by preventing the aircraft from entering unusual altitudes such as stall or over-speeding.

“The Legacy 450 was designed to be a game changer in its category to delight our customers with all the innovation that distinguishes us from our competitors,” says Marco Tulio Pellegrini, president and ceo of Embraer Executive Jets. “This is a great achievement that paves the way for deliveries to begin in the member states of the European Union as well as in EASA-associated countries. The Legacy 450 is a revolutionary business jet that re-enforces our commitment to deliver true innovation to the market.”

The commonality between the 450 and 500 extends beyond the cabin cross-section, E2VS option and fly-by-wire technology. They have the only wet galley in their segments as well as Honeywell's Ovation Select cabin management and entertainment system, and the landing gear and hydraulic control units are supplied by Crane Aerospace and Electronics. Being the larger of the two aircraft, the 500 has four more windows making 12 altogether, which are strategically placed to give each of the eight passengers a good view and with the remaining four windows located adjacent to foldable worktables.

Chapman Freeborn's Black says: “We are yet to see if the smaller Legacy family members will find their niche in their respective size categories. What Embraer has typically done so well with the Phenom family is to find some way of making them slightly different to their competitors. The Phenom 300 is a great example of this; it is bigger than a CJ2, smaller than an Excel, it feels roomy, has a great range and has found a unique place for itself in the market. The super mid-size 450 and 500 will have a tougher time competing head to head with established types such as the Challenger 300 and Sovereign. But the Legacy does boast a wide flat floor rather than a drop aisle and also a great short runway performance.”

Full service network in region

According to Mike Hamlin, managing director of Embraer authorised service centre Hamlin Jet Support Ltd based at London Luton airport: “The Legacy 600 and 650 were originally intended to be commuter airliners, and the one that we service the most is the 600, probably because it has been around the longest.

“We don't see any trends in unserviceability, and there is no particular area in which we feel the aircraft is weak or vulnerable. I think that its biggest positive is that it offers a lot of aircraft for the money, but on the other hand it isn't built cheaply.

“Whereas the Challenger airframe has two passenger compartments of four people, the Legacy could have three club fours or couches and beds at the back. So you have three passenger areas rather than two. From that point of view it is a lot more aircraft for the money.

“There is a lot of commonality between the new Legacy 500 and its predecessors so we do not really have to make any changes to what we are doing. We work with pilots, owners and CAMO to coordinate maintenance.

“The Legacy 600 was launched in the year 2000 I think, and took its maiden flight in March 2001. We have been a service centre for less than a year so I am not aware of any teething problems back then. We get emails if a major problem has been identified, but such things are really quite rare because it is now a mature design. Embraer's innovation and product line expansion over the past few years has been very clever.”

Hamlin continues: “Our relation-ship with Embraer has improved since its European offices were moved from Paris to the Netherlands. It was always difficult to organise swift or out-of-hours requests when it was in Paris, but it is very important that we work closely with the OEM and that we are all batting for the same team. We are still in a learning curve with Embraer at the moment, but the move to Amsterdam has definitely made things easier.”

Colibri's Stone notes: “As a broker, we are constantly searching for service facilities to deal with clients located around the world. Embraer has done a fantastic job with this, and there are a number of choices where a Legacy can be serviced. We have had particular experience with Embraer Hartford in the USA, Inflite in England, Hawker Pacific in Singapore and ABS Jets in Prague. All are Embraer authorised facilities and all have been excellent, both in terms of service provided, value and attention to detail.”

Waldir Concalves, senior vp, customer support and services worldwide at Embraer, has said: “After three years of preparation, Embraer is fully operative to support the 500 as it enters service, and has recently completed a substantial step in a new global logistics network with the opening of a spare parts distribution centre in Brussels, Belgium, to support customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.” The company is also planning to expand the Le Bourget service centre and introduce a new African authorised service centre.

A secure wi-fi connection links each Legacy to Embraer's aircraft health analysis and diagnosis system, which monitors the aircraft's flight hours and maintenance history, collates trip reports and tracks the GPS position. The system reduces the time it takes to return an aircraft to service and provides up-to-date info to maintenance crews.

Titan's Sheik notes that: “Embraer has invested considerably to fix all the teething problems the range had few years ago. It has now become a mature product. Embraer has committed itself to support owners and operators and it is very visible in the fact that the dispatch reliability of this family remains consistently very high.”

Bodson of ASL adds that: “So far, the Legacy 450 has met and exceeded most of the expectations of the owner, the passengers and the crew. Flying the aircraft is a pure pleasure. The fly-by-wire technology feels extremely safe and efficient, as does the Rockwell Collins Proline Fusion flight deck. It was only delivered in January so we have limited experience, but we are definitely looking forward to commencing charter operations to get more experience and more feedback on this aircraft. We were expecting some glitches, it being so new, but so far we have only encountered minor issues and the reactivity and efficiency of the Embraer team, both in Brazil and in Europe, has been tremendous.”

“The Legacy 600 we used to operate proved to be very reliable. We are expecting the same feedback once the 650 enters operation later this year.”

Indeed the only (slightly) negative comment EBAN received was from Stone who noted: “The onboard microwaves have a tendency to blow out, which is an inconvenience for the staff who plan and prepare meals meticulously and rely on all appliances working properly. However, the Legacy 600 and 650 are also fitted with an oven, so it doesn't take hot food off the menu for passengers altogether.”

It would seem that Embraer offers superb product support and service around the world, as Stone continues: “We do a lot of work with the Embraer models and so we have a great appreciation of the OEM and their products. As with all aircraft and really all client experiences, there are things we would love to see improved, but as a general experience we are very happy with how they work, respond to problems and handle their client issues.

“To me, a great test of a company is how they handle customer problems. In this regard, Embraer does extremely well. Members of their team, throughout the hierarchy, are available to discuss problems and help provide solutions. In general, buyers see a great value in the Legacy line, both pre-owned and new. It is a remarkably capable OEM that builds versatile aircraft. Owners and prospective buyers alike recognise this and as such it has a strong following.”

What factors influence 600 series resale values?

Colibri's Stone says of the 600 series pre-owned market: “It is bifurcated into USA based and registered aircraft, which are actually very liquid at the moment, and EASA based and registered aircraft which are still moving, but take much more time to do so.

“Maintenance status, engine programmes and hours are the main drivers of value in today's market. The major inspections can have costly implications so people are keenly watching the inspection status of an aircraft. As aircraft get older, engine programmes have much more relevance as they are transferable to the buyer and in effect are a transfer of the accrued maintenance for the hours used. As aircraft age and accumulate hours, these programmes become significant transfers of value.

“Higher hours have an impact upon value. Buyers are very sensitive to high hour aircraft and as such tend to actively search for aircraft with lower hours, and only consider higher houred aircraft when they have a significant discount.”

The first London Executive Aviation (LEA) aircraft to be registered in the Isle of Man was a 650, a private jet not available for charter, which was being used by a company quite extensively for around 700-800 hours a year. At the time George Galanopoulos, managing director of LEA head-quartered at Stapleford Airport just outside of London, said: “The Isle of Man had a favourable tax regime and a straightforward CAA for non-charter aircraft. And the M registration doesn't devalue the aircraft. If you choose a register which is well-respected then that proves to be a good decision. If you put it on some of the shadier registers that we have experienced, you will try to sell it and people are going to be completely uninterested.”

Positioning within the EBAN region

The 600 series has been in service for 15 years and there are around 120 in the EBAN region. The first 500s went for operation to Brazil, Australia, Mexico and to FlexJet in Dallas, who are also in line to take a 450, and subsequently to Germany, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. At the time of writing there is one 450 in the EBAN region, based in Belgium.

LEA's Galanopoulos says: “We have seven Legacy 600s in the LEA fleet; six are based in the UK and one is based in Geneva.

“The 600 is a reliable aircraft because it is built off a scheduled airliner platform, so many of the practical and cost benefits are carried over. The aircraft is mechanically-friendly; parts are easily accessible and easy to change. Trouble-shooting is also more straightforward than on other business aircraft, although there are very rarely any problems to detect. It is also remarkably economical, burning less fuel than other jets of its size. Embraer is focused on creating value by lowering costs, and in terms of after-sales service requirements and lower fuel costs, they have certainly been successful with the 600 and 650.”

Galanopoulos continues: “The aircraft is particularly popular with any business looking to cost-effectively put its team at the heart of new business opportunities. We are seeing more and more company executives using these aircraft to fly to emerging markets such as Africa and Eastern Europe, as far as Kazakhstan as well as Russia and Middle Eastern locations including Dubai and Tel Aviv. Since the recession, there has of course been a noticeable decline in the number of banking and financial sector business travellers using private aviation; while we are beginning to see recovery in these sectors, they still make up a smaller percentage of our business customers compared to pre-recession.”

ExecuJet Group aircraft operations director John Brutnell says the company has added the Legacy 650 to its managed fleet in Europe, which is also available for charter. “Based in Marseille, the aircraft complements our charter offering for a number of reasons. Firstly, the 650 has the largest cabin in its class and a very generous baggage compartment. The cabin is also very well insulated, allowing for a quiet and relaxing flight. Secondly, the range of the aircraft connects many city pairs that are in high demand from our customers. And thirdly, the Embraer Legacy is also one of the most reliable corporate jets ever built, with an excellent safety and dispatch record.”

Emperor Aviation became one of the first Maltese air companies to operate a Russian-owned Legacy 600. CEO Litanishvili says of their three year experience with the aircraft: “It has been successful and progressive in many ways because we have carried out several unique long-haul flights. Suffice to say that the Legacy 600 under our operation connected Moscow and the Seychelles, with a stop in the UAE at Fujairah; has flown from Miami to Moscow via the tiny Azores islands; and carried out a flight from Moscow to Japan with a stop in the small Siberian town of Bratsk.”

Sheik says that the Titan Airways Legacys are: “Based in Kuwait, Beirut, within the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) countries and in Cochin, India. The aircraft are not chartered but are exclusively for the owners, their families and friends, who tend to travel to Asia, within the GCC and to Europe. On average the Legacys fly over 500 hours a year, around 70 per cent of the time for business and the remaining 30 per cent for leisure.”

Roussos adds that GainJet's 600 is based in Athens, Greece. “This is a central base for our two main target markets – Europe and the Middle East. It does mostly regional work like flying within Europe or the Middle-East. We've also done a few trips from Europe to South Africa, Morocco, Rwanda and Egypt using the aircraft. Its six hour range is great for regional trips, and the clients who favour it tend to be mostly either business travellers, or families who are carrying a lot of baggage.

“Indeed, one of our passengers, a bride flying out of London to her wedding in Santorini, Greece, was grateful that we saved her big day from disaster: her wedding dress was huge, as was the trunk it was in, and it looked like it would not fit anywhere. Thankfully we got it into the Legacy, along with several other pieces of luggage she was bringing along, and the wedding went ahead without another hitch.”

In December 2015 Embraer Executive Jets delivered another 650 large jet to an undisclosed customer in the Middle East, to be managed by Titan Aviation, which adds to the 29 Legacy 650s and 600s that were already operating in that part of the world.

“The owner currently has a 600 and decided to upgrade to a Legacy 650 as he has been very pleased with Embraer's supportive partnership,” says Sheik. “The Legacy 650 was chosen because of its range, reliability, low cost of operation, comfort and its ability to land in airports such as London City. With this new Legacy 650 order, Titan Aviation will be managing three Embraer executive jets in the Middle East and in India on behalf of the respective owners.”

Where time is money, Legacys have an advantage

One of the reasons the 600 has become the number one party tour bus of the skies in Europe is to do with it being economical, says Black of Chapman Freeborn: “A music tour is a very bad utilisation of an aircraft. Typical use can be one 90 minute sector every second day. But the Legacy 600 series, in its Embraer 135 airline phase, was designed as a short haul commuter aircraft. Our clients don't want to pay three hours daily minimum usage to underwrite potential long haul revenue expectations on a GIV. The Legacy, however, is fuel efficient and performs better on shorter runways than some other similar sized jets. It can use London City and Antwerp in the right conditions.”

Litanishvili says: “During Emperor Aviation's Legacy 600 operation we noticed an interesting trend that was changing right in front of our eyes. At first Russian passengers were suspicious about this machine, which they knew to be manufactured outside of Russia. However we, along with other main market players, have gradually changed opinion as we offered the 600 for charter and received positive feedback afterwards.

“The 600 is now an undisputed favourite among Russian passengers flying charter and it consistently comes among the top three of the most popular charter aircraft. On average this Brazilian bestseller undertakes more than ten per cent of business charters from and to Moscow, serving the most popular destinations of Nice, France, Olbia in Sardinia and Vienna, Austria.

“The Legacy 600 has also gained the status of a true bestseller among the private aircraft owners in Russia and the CIS,” continues Litanishvili, who estimates: “Embraer's Legacy 600 and 650 aircraft account for around 11.5 per cent of the total business jet fleet flying on behalf of Russian owners. Given the popularity of the aircraft in Russia and the CIS, we continue to work to attract new Legacy business jets under our operation. We are also pleased to recommend that future owners make their Legacy available for charter as the margins on this aircraft will be higher than that of other super-midsize jets.”

This feeling is summed up by LEA's Galanopoulos, who explains: “The three distinct seating areas in the Legacy 600/650, as opposed to the traditional two, make these aircraft a really good option for business trav-ellers by providing a more versatile area for meetings, presentations and dining. The cabin space is not compromised by baggage because of the enormous baggage compart-ment, which is accessible at all times on the ground and in-flight. The range of the aircraft complements this dedicated in-flight office environ-ment. When carrying eight passengers, the 600 can efficiently cruise over 3,700 miles at altitude, connecting city pairs that are in very high demand by our customers.”

Sheik suggests: “The Legacy 650 is an ideal platform for multinational corporations and high net worth individuals who could combine leisure and business on the one flight, with the forward cabins dedicated for the business group and the aft zone reserved for family, with total privacy. No other aircraft offers such a facility within the Legacy's price range.”

Galanopoulos says: “LEA wouldn't rule out the 500 or 450 as our experience of the Legacy 600/650 is that it performs well to the standards set out by Embraer. Furthermore, they have a very reliable AOG support network so it is very rare flights are lost to unresolved technical issues.”

Sheik says Titan Airways is considering the 500 and 450, and is awaiting market feedback before introducing them to its fleet.