Bombardier Signs Contract with Air Wisconsin for Six
More CRJ200 Regional Jets
TORONTO, ONTARIO--DECEMBER 2, 2002 - 12:33 EST
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Air
Wisconsin has placed a firm order for six additional 50-passenger
Bombardier CRJ200* regional jet aircraft as a result of its
recently inaugurated code share relationship with AirTran
Airways.
The transaction, valued at $140 million U.S. ($213 million Cdn.),
represents the conversion of six of the 26 conditional orders
currently held by Appleton, Wisconsin-based Air Wisconsin. It
increases the airline's firm orders to 64, of which 27 aircraft
have been delivered. Air Wisconsin retains 20 conditional
orders, and 75 options on Bombardier CRJ* aircraft.
Air Wisconsin's Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft serve United Airlines
hubs at Denver, Chicago, Washington and Los Angeles under the
United Express banner and, the AirTran Airways hub at Atlanta as
AirTran JetConnect.
"The Bombardier CRJ gives us the performance necessary to operate
effectively and economically in the challenging hot and high
altitude environment at Denver as well as the complex air traffic
environments at Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta Hartsfield
International Airports," said Geoff Crowley, chairman and CEO,
Air Wisconsin. "Our passengers appreciate the speed and comfort
of the aircraft on our increasingly longer stage lengths."
"This order confirms Air Wisconsin's continuing confidence in the
Bombardier CRJ," said John Giraudy, president, Bombardier
Regional Aircraft. "The Bombardier CRJ has helped propel Air
Wisconsin into the top ranks of regional airlines in the U.S."
"Larger airlines are continuing to turn to their regional
partners for profitable service in many markets. Air Wisconsin's
agreement with AirTran Airways now extends Bombardier CRJ service
to the networks of low-fare carriers for the first time," he
added.
Air Wisconsin flies more than four million passengers a year from
50 cities in 22 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
The Bombardier CRJ200 is a member of Bombardier's best-selling
family of regional jets that also includes the 70-passenger
CRJ700* and the recently certified 86-passenger CRJ900* that will
enter revenue service early in 2003. The Bombardier CRJ family
has now gathered 1215 firm orders, with 771 delivered as of Nov.
28, 2002.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is a world
leader in the design, and manufacture of innovative aviation
products and provides services for the regional, business and
amphibious aircraft markets. It also offers Bombardier
Flexjet(R) fractional ownership, aircraft charter and management,
technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training for
business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and services
company, is a world-leading manufacturer of business jets,
regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized
recreational products. It also provides financial services and
asset management in business areas aligned with its core
expertise. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, the Corporation
has a workforce of some 80,000 people in 24 countries throughout
the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Its revenues for the
fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2002 stood at $21.6 billion Cdn.
Bombardier trades on the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock
exchanges (BBD, BOM and BBDd.F).
(R) Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc.
* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. |
