“It does not happen, it is as simple as that”: Dassault’s chief is very concerned about his business planes, Trump’s customs tasks would close the US market towards him

It is expectant and worried: the CEO of Dassault Aviation Éric Trappier said he was concerned about the impact that the commercial war can have by Donald Trump, in the business aviation sector.

In the business aviation segment, the French manufacturer shows a slightly lower performance compared to last year, after registering eight orders in the first half, against 11 in 2024.

“There is no doubt, there is an impact on customs tasks,” said Dassault Aviation, who must also manage the difficulties related to the supply chain among subcontractors.

The CEO asks for the return of the 1979 agreements, namely an absence of reciprocal taxes for civil aeronautics, a wish shared throughout the sector.

The loss of competitiveness in case of establishing customs duties, either 10, 15 or 30%, would close the US market in Dassault Aviation, while “more than half of the market” of business aviation is carried out in the United States.

Consider all possible scenarios

The aircraft manufacturer indicates to work in the different scenarios that could advance from August 1 and study all possible options, without revealing their plans. “We will see what is happening,” said Éric Trappier, while the European Union could be imposed on 15% of customs duties and threatens to put into force a countermedidal package if no commercial agreement is found with the Trump administration.

Among the options that could be planned, install a production plant in the United States.

Dassault Aviation already has a final factory in the United States, in Little Rock (Arkansas), which achieves the interior design of Falcon aircraft (seats, furniture, communication systems, paint, etc.). If the manufacturer was only taxed in the “European” part of the plane, so not the work done in Little Rock, this would still represent an important part of the price of the plane.

A segment in full transition

The Falcon Fleet for the business aviation market currently includes four aircraft: the Falcon 900LX, the Falcon 2000lxs, the Falcon 8x and the Falcon 6x, the last born of the range, which has made more than 3,400 hours of flight since its launch at the end of 2023. Éric Trappier.