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Citation suspends the Columbus program

The slowdown in the private jet industry has halted Cessna’s most promising new aircraft, the Cessna Citation Columbus.

The company recently announced they will suspend the Cessna Citation Columbus program, close the facility in Oregon, and lay-off an additional 2,300 employees. The measures are being done to reduce spending.  

The Columbus program was at its developmental states, but it would’ve been the fastest and largest jet in the Cessna fleet. It was scheduled to be ready by 2014. The state and local governments of Kansa had allotted millions worth of incentives to entice the company to set up its production plant in the state. According to the Wichita Eagle, the money will be retrieved through increased payroll taxes.

Last year, Cessna was aiming to deliver 500 jets in 2009. Now the company has lowered its production goal to 300 planes. The company has received numerous cancellations for planes that were scheduled to be delivered in the upcoming years.