Bombardier CRJ700 First 70-Seat Regional Jet in Asia
With Delivery to China's Shandong Airlines
TORONTO, ONTARIO--NOVEMBER 4, 2003 - 17:21 ET
Bombardier Aerospace's CRJ700(i) will be the
first 70-seat regional jet in the Asia/Pacific region with the
delivery on October 31, 2003 of two Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft to
Shandong Airlines of The People's Republic of China.
Shandong Airlines, based at Jinan in Shandong Province, currently
operates ten 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ200(i) regional jets,
five of which were acquired from Bombardier and five of which are
leased from General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
The Bombardier CRJ700 represents the first 70-seat regional jet
to be certified by Chinese Aviation Authorities for operation in
China.
"We believe the CRJ700 with its low seat-mile costs, will help us
achieve our financial objectives," said Yu Haitian, vice
president, Shandong Airlines.
"We are pleased that Shandong Airlines will be showcasing the
Bombardier CRJ700 in China," said Steven A. Ridolfi, president,
Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft. "With its excellent
seat-mile operating economics, long range and proven performance
demonstrated by 113 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft already in
operation throughout North America and Europe, we are confident
that the CRJ700 will set the standards for regional jets in this
expanding marketplace."
There are 35 Bombardier Aerospace corporate and commercial
aircraft operating in China. With 28 Bombardier CRJ twin-jet
airliners and three Bombardier Q400 70-seat turboprops currently
in service, Bombardier is the largest supplier of regional
aircraft to the Chinese market, helping airlines and government
develop a network of regional airline markets linking smaller
communities with each other and with major hubs. China Yunnan
Airlines of Kunming operates six CRJ200(i) aircraft; Shandong
Airlines operates ten CRJ200 and, with the recent delivery, two
CRJ700 jets; and Shanghai Airlines of Shanghai has three CRJ200
aircraft. China United Airlines and China Ocean Aviation, both of
Beijing, operate seven Bombardier Challenger 800 aircraft, which
are corporate versions of the CRJ200. Chang An Airlines (Hainan
Group), has three 70-seat Q400(i) turboprop airliners.
In addition, Shandong Airlines and Bombardier jointly own and
operate China's first regional jet training facility, Qingdao Fei
Sheng International Aviation Technology Development Corporation
Ltd. (QFS) in Qingdao. The facility, which opened in April 2002,
is equipped with a CAE Inc. CRJ200 Level "D" full flight
simulator. Bombardier Aerospace also operates a spare parts depot
in Beijing for regional aircraft customers.
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(i)
and Bombardier Skyjet(i) business aircraft programs, technical
services, and 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 75,000 people and manufacturing facilities in
25 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2003 stood at
$23.7 billion Cdn. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto,
Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and BBDd.F).
(i) Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Note to Editors:
Images of a Shandong Airlines CRJ700 aircraft and the delivery
ceremony are available in our Web site multimedia library at:
www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F15.jsp |
