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Sir Fred's £31m plane order ditched by RBS
19.03.09
Royal Bank of Scotland has cancelled an order for what would have been former chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin's most expensive plaything yet: a $45 million (£31 million), 19-seater private jet.
Dassault today said RBS had cancelled the order for a Falcon 7X, which the French business-jet maker bills as flying "faster, further and higher" than any jet it has ever built.
The jet was ordered three years ago with a view to replacing Goodwin's controversial Falcon 900. The Falcon, said to have running costs of £9000 an hour, has been put up for sale by Goodwin's successor Stephen Hester. He has ordered an end to corporate excess at the bank, which is majority-owned by the British taxpayer.
A spokesman for RBS said: "We are currently in the market looking for a buyer. We had considered replacing the jet previously but had already decided not to proceed with that."
Dassault said Citigroup had also cancelled orders for three Falcons.
Reader views (2)
Fred Goodwin should have his Knighthood cancelled. Good luck to all the protesters (The many hundreds of thousands) that have already reviled him - especially those in Scotland. I hope they will make him pay in full for his excessess and ALL THE HOPES AND DREAMS HE HAS SMASHED TO PIECES.
- Terry Patrick, Paignton Devon
Surely he was given free use of this jet, with chauffeur to get him to and from airport. So no doubt he will be looking for a financial reward, as I for one would not like to sit beside him on a Ryanair flight - I might spill my expensive latte !
- Don Elwin, Landeleau France
