Bombardier Increases Canadair Regional Jet Production
Rate due to Continuing Strong Demand
AUGUST 16, 1999
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it is
increasing the production rate of the Canadair Regional Jet to
meet record demand from airlines around the world.
Effective next summer, the production rate for the 50-passenger
CRJ100 and 200 Series will increase to 9.5 aircraft per month from
7.5. This will result in an annual production rate of 112 units,
an increase of more than 25 per cent at Bombardier Aerospace
facilities in Dorval, Quebec.
This rate increase will have partial impact in the fiscal year
2000/2001 and will be fully implemented by the fiscal year
2001/2002. Production in the fiscal year 2000/2001 will increase
from a scheduled 92 aircraft to more than 100 aircraft, up from 78
aircraft in the current fiscal year. When fully implemented next
fall, this increase will create more than 600 new jobs.
"This is the second production rate increase for the Canadair
Regional Jet in less than a year and reflects continuing strong
demand for the aircraft around the world," said Mike Graff,
president and chief operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace. "The
Canadair Regional Jet has become the best-selling regional
aircraft in history, with total orders, conditional orders and
options now totalling 1,089 aircraft."
The CRJ100, 200 and new 700 Series have been selling at a record
pace this year, with 135 firm orders since January 1, 1999. In
the wake of the favorable ProEx ruling, Bombardier Aerospace
announced 27 follow-on orders from three major customers in the
past three weeks alone.
These included orders for 20 more CRJ200 Series from Atlantic
Coast Airlines in the U.S., two additional CRJ200 Series plus
three CRJ700 Series aircraft from Maersk Air Ltd. in the U.K. and
two more CRJ200 Series from Tyrolean Airways of Austria .
"Airlines around the world are recognizing the outstanding
performance, range and economics of the Canadair Regional Jet,"
commented Mr. Graff. "The aircraft has clearly changed the air
transport industry."
Firm orders to date for the CRJ100 and 200 Series total 577
aircraft, of which 327 are in service with 31 airlines and
corporate customers, and 250 remain in backlog. Operators have
options or conditional orders for an additional 248 aircraft.
The 70-seat CRJ700 Series has accumulated 99 firm orders plus 165
options or conditional orders. Currently there are two aircraft
in flight test at the Bombardier Flight Test Center in Wichita,
Kansas and the CRJ700 Series is scheduled for certification in the
fourth quarter of 2000.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the world's
third largest civil aircraft manufacturer with operations in three
countries. Leading the 20- to 70-passenger regional carrier
market, Bombardier Aerospace offers complete families of turboprop
and regional jet aircraft. It has the industry's widest range of
business jets, offering both full and fractional ownership, and
also produces firefighting/maritime mission aircraft. It provides
technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training to
business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc. is a Canadian corporation active in the fields of
aerospace, rail transportation equipment, recreational products,
financial services and services related to its products and core
business. It operates plants in 12 countries in North America,
Europe and Asia, and more than 90 per cent of its revenues are
generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues for its fiscal
year ended January 31, 1999 totalled $11.5 billion.
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