Bombardier Delivers First CRJ900 to Launch Customer Mesa
Air Group
TORONTO, ONTARIO-- FEBRUARY 3, 2003 - 14:01 EST
First new-generation 90-seat class jet to the market
Bombardier Aerospace today announced delivery of the first
Bombardier CRJ900* to Phoenix, Arizona-based Mesa Air Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MESA), launch customer for the new 90-seat class
regional jet.
Mesa will be the first airline to operate all three variants of
Bombardier's industry-leading family of regional jets, the
50-seat CRJ200*, 70-seat CRJ700* and 86-seat CRJ900. Mesa offers
two-class seating in its Bombardier CRJ700 and Bombardier CRJ900
aircraft, with 64 and 80 seats respectively.
Mesa recently revised its CRJ firm orders by converting five
Bombardier CRJ700 to five Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. The airline
now has firm orders for 15 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, of which
seven have been delivered, and firm orders for 25 Bombardier
CRJ900 Series. It also holds options on an additional 20 of each
variant. In addition to its Bombardier CRJ700, Mesa also
currently operates 32 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.
The Bombardier CRJ900 will be flown by Mesa under the America
West Express banner.
"The introduction of the Bombardier CRJ700 in our America West
Express system has had a very positive impact, leading to
significant increases in both the number of passengers and load
factors," said Jonathan Ornstein, chairman and CEO of Mesa Air
Group. "The Bombardier CRJ900 is the next step in our regional
jet growth strategy with its very low operating cost per seat and
the resulting improvement in financial performance."
Mr. Ornstein also noted that passengers have remarked on the
roominess and comfort of the cabin in the Bombardier CRJ700 which
features two-class service with a three abreast first class
section. The redesign of the cabin from the CRJ200 has made the
CRJ700 passenger cabin even better, and the Bombardier CRJ900
also reflects these improvements.
"We are delighted by the success of the Bombardier CRJ200 and
CRJ700 in the Mesa Air Group fleet and we are fully confident
that the CRJ900 will continue that success story," said John
Giraudy, president, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "The low
operating costs of the Bombardier CRJ900 coupled with the
additional economic benefits stemming from fleet commonality and
same type rating with both the CRJ200 and CRJ700 will offer
substantial cost savings for airlines such as Mesa Air Group."
Mesa currently operates 125 aircraft with 919 daily system
departures to 147 cities, 36 states, Canada and Mexico. It
operates in the West and Midwest as America West Express, the
Midwest and East as US Airways Express, in Denver as Frontier
JetExpress, in Kansas City as Midwest Express Airlines and in the
Southwest as Mesa Airlines. The Company, which was founded in New
Mexico in 1982, has approximately 3,000 employees. Mesa is a
member of Regional Aviation Partners.
As of Dec. 31, 2002 firm orders for the Bombardier CRJ family of
regional jets totaled 1,215, with 792 delivered to 37 customers.
Conditional orders and options could boost the Bombardier CRJ
program total to 2,434 aircraft.
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*
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).
* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Note to Editors:
Images of the Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet are available on our
Web site photo gallery at: www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F14.jsp |
