Bombardier Finalizes Sale of up to 80 CRJ Aircraft With
Mesa Air Group: Mesa Becomes North American Launch
Customer for CRJ900
TORONTO, ONTARIO--MAY 22, 2001 - 16:47 EDT
Bombardier Aerospace today announced it has
finalized a sale with Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group for up to 80
Bombardier CRJ* regional jet aircraft, confirming a letter of
intent announced earlier this spring.
The deal calls for the U.S. regional carrier to purchase 20
70-seat CRJ700* and 20 86-seat CRJ900* aircraft plus 40 options.
The firm aircraft portion of the transaction is worth
approximately U.S.$1.2 billion (Cdn.$1.9 billion). Deliveries of
the firm aircraft will begin in the first quarter of 2002 for the
CRJ700 and the first quarter of 2003 for the CRJ900.
"We are delighted to become the North American launch customer for
the CRJ900 aircraft," said Jonathan Ornstein, chairman and chief
executive officer of Mesa Air Group when he initially announced
his airline's intention to order CRJ aircraft in March of this
year. "We believe that the new aircraft will precisely match the
blended operating, financial and performance needs of both America
West and Mesa. This reaffirms our commitment to Bombardier and
its family of regional aircraft," he said.
Mesa intends to operate the aircraft on behalf of America West
Airlines under a recently concluded long-term code sharing
agreement.
Mesa's contract will make it the first airline to fly all three
variants of Bombardier's CRJ product line.
Bombardier's CRJ orderbook now totals 2,230 aircraft - 510
delivered, 590 on firm order backlog and 1,130 conditional orders
and options.
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 79,000 people in 23 countries
in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Bombardier's revenues
for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion and
more than 90% were generated outside Canada.
(R) Registered Trademarks of Bombardier Inc.
* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. |
