Bombardier Delivers CRJ No. 500 to Atlantic Coast
Airlines
TORONTO, ONTARIO--APRIL 26, 2001 - 12:55 EDT
Bombardier Aerospace today delivered the
milestone 500th production CRJ*, a 50-seat Series 200 model, to
Dulles, Virginia-based Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA). It was the
carrier's 43rd delivery from a firm order for 96 of the 50-seat
regional jets. ACA holds options on an additional 80 CRJ
aircraft.
The aircraft was accepted by Kerry Skeen, chairman and chief
executive officer, and Tom Moore, president and chief operating
officer, of ACA at a special handover ceremony at the ACA hangar
facility at Washington Dulles International Airport. They were
presented with a ceremonial key to the aircraft, Serial Number
7500, by John Giraudy, senior vice-president, sales at Bombardier
Aerospace Regional Aircraft.
"The CRJ airliner program is about 10 years old now and the 500th
airliner is something of an achievement because a lot of people
didn't believe there was a market for this kind of airliner," said
Steven Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Aerospace, Regional
Aircraft. "They didn't think we would go past 400 airplanes in
ten years. In fact, considering orders and options for all
versions of the CRJ, our program now totals 2,105 aircraft. And
along the way, the CRJ revolutionized the regional airline
industry."
Mr. Skeen said, "The CRJ and our relationship with Bombardier have
not only become a major element in our fleet plan, but a
foundation of our entire business plan. We believe the continuing
partnership will serve both companies extremely well for many
years to come."
Delivery of the 500th CRJ came not quite 10 years after the
rollout of the first CRJ, on May 6, 1991.
The original CRJ100* Series has since grown to four models:
50-seat CRJ100 and 200, 70-seat CRJ700* and 86-seat CRJ900*. The
first CRJ700 entered revenue service with Brit Air of France in
February, 2001. The CRJ900 is currently in flight test and is
scheduled for certification in the third quarter of 2002 with
customer deliveries to begin in the first quarter 2003.
As of today, 35 operators in 16 countries or territories have
accepted delivery of 500 CRJ aircraft, of which 300 aircraft are
in the U.S. The firm order backlog is 545 aircraft. Conditional
orders and options for 1,060 CRJ aircraft raise the program total
to 2,105 aircraft, making it the best-selling regional airliner of
all time.
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 58,000 people in 12 countries
in North America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90% of its
revenues are generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues for
its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion.
(R) Registered Trademarks of Bombardier Inc.
* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. |
