Bombardier Sells Two Additional CRJ700 Aircraft to Birmingham's Maersk Air Ltd.
More info on the new 90 seater towards the bottom of this PR
TORONTO, ONTARIO--Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Maersk
Air Ltd. Of Birmingham, England, has placed two firm orders for
its new 70-seat CRJ700* Series regional jet. The orders represent
the conversion of two existing options.
The value of this Maersk Air order is approximately US$53.6
million (Cdn$75 million). Under terms of the contract, both
aircraft deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter of 2002.
The airline, the U.K. launch customer for the 50-seat CRJ, first
ordered CRJ200* Series aircraft from Bombardier in October 1997
and also became the U.K. launch customer for the new 70-seat
regional jet with an initial order for three CRJ700 Series
aircraft in July 1999. The airline had also secured options
convertible between the 50 - and 70-passenger CRJ models in order
to tailor its fleet to evolving market requirements. Through a
series of repeat orders, Maersk Air Ltd. has firm commitments for
a total of 16 CRJ aircraft - 11 CRJ200 Series aircraft, 10 of
which are delivered and in service, and five CRJ700 Series
aircraft.
Maersk Air Ltd.'s CRJ fleet sports the livery of British Airways
under a long-established franchise agreement. The airline serves
11 destinations in nine countries with about 400 flights weekly.
Maersk Air Ltd. will use its CRJ700 Series aircraft to increase
capacity on its current route network.
The airline's choice of a mixed fleet of CRJ aircraft allows
greater flexibility in fleet planning plus the added economic
benefit of reduced operational costs due to commonality of flight
and maintenance crews as well as spares provisioning. Transport
Canada recently awarded the CRJ700 the same type rating as the 200
Series models. Other jurisdictions are expected to approve common
type rating for the aircraft shortly.
The CRJ700 was launched in January 1997 in response to market
demand for a growth version of the industry-leading 50-passenger
CRJ model. First flight for the aircraft type took place in late
May 1999. Initial customer deliveries will begin in the first
quarter of next year following Transport Canada certification
anticipated by the end this year.
The Bombardier CRJ regional jet family will be further expanded in
the first quarter of 2003 with the entry to service of the
86-passenger CRJ900* Series. Launched at the Farnborough
International Air Show in late July of this year, the prototype
CRJ900 Series will take its first flight in the first quarter of
2001. Transport Canada certification for the largest CRJ model is
slated for the third quarter of 2002.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the leading
business, regional and amphibious aircraft manufacturer. With
full design and production capabilities in three countries, it
offers the most comprehensive families of turboprop and regional
jet aircraft and the widest range of business jets. It also
provides the Flexjet(R) fractional business aircraft ownership
program, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot
training for business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational
products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset
management. The Corporation employs 56,000 people 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 Jan. 31, 2000, totalled $13.6 billion
Cdn. |
