Bombardier Delivers First CRJ700 Aircraft to Air France
Carrier, Brit Air
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--JANUARY 31, 2001 - 10:59 EST
Bombardier Aerospace today delivered the first
of 12 new CRJ700* regional jet airliners to launch customer Brit
Air of Morlaix, France. This represents the first commercial
delivery of Bombardier's new CRJ700 regional jet.
The 70-seat aircraft, a lengthened, higher-capacity version of
Bombardier's revolutionary 50-seat CRJ, will enter service with
Brit Air on an Air France route by mid-February. Four CRJ700
aircraft will be in the airline's fleet during Brit Air's summer
season. The airline currently operates 20 CRJ100* 50-seat
aircraft.
Bombardier officially launched the CRJ700 program on Jan. 21, 1997
with 67 orders, options and memoranda of understanding from eight
airlines on four continents - the first firm orders coming from
Brit Air. Bombardier now has firm orders for 174 CRJ700 aircraft
plus 317 conditional orders and options for a total of 491 units
from 14 customers on five continents.
"Today's initial CRJ700 delivery marks a major milestone for
Bombardier with our new 70-seat regional jet achieving first
delivery far, far ahead of the competition," said Steven A.
Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft. "We
remain very gratified by the early endorsement of the CRJ700 by
launch customer Brit Air," he said.
Brit Air president Xavier Leclercq said, "The imminent
introduction to service of our first CRJ700 will provide a
valuable asset to our fleet with operating economics even better
than our fleet of 50-passenger CRJ aircraft. We are embarking on
a new era in Europe's highly competitive market with a true family
of efficient 50- and 70-seat aircraft."
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 Cdn$13.6
billion.
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