Bombardier Aerospace Enjoys Record Growth in Asia-Pacific and Continues to Invest in Strategic Partnerships FEBRUARY 18, 2000 MONTREAL, QUEBEC--On the eve of Asian Aerospace 2000 to be held in Singapore Feb. 22-27, 2000, Bombardier Aerospace is emerging as the leading aerospace manufacturer of business and regional aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region.
Bombardier Aerospace has taken the leadership position in the burgeoning regional airline market in Asia-Pacific capturing, in 1999, all available regional jet and turboprop orders in the market segments in which it competes in the Asia-Pacific region.
Between Jan. 1, 1999, and Jan. 31, 2000, Bombardier Aerospace sold 23 Canadair Regional Jet(R) Series 200 and Q* Series Dash 8 turboprops, while adding nine new customers.
Bombardier also led the way in Asia's business aircraft market by capturing 60 per cent of the deliveries throughout the region. These deliveries included the entire portfolio of business jets, among them the ultra long-range Global Express(R) and Learjet(R) family of aircraft.
"As the world's leading manufacturer of regional and business aircraft, Bombardier views Asia-Pacific as an important region for business partnerships and commercial sales," said Michael Graff, president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Aerospace. "We were the first western manufacturer to source aircraft components from China's aerospace industry and we value our relationships with our Asian partners. In short, we are committed to benefiting the people in Asia-Pacific in their ability to move efficiently from point to point, while at the same time expanding our business in the region."
China
China is prominent in Bombardier's Asian growth plans. Since 1996, it has maintained a representative office in Beijing and a permanent regional sales office for business aircraft in Hong Kong. Since April 1999, Bombardier sales in the country include three Q400 turboprop aircraft to Changan Airlines; five CRJ200 Series jets to Shandong Airlines and three more to Shanghai Airlines. These aircraft will join the 14 Bombardier aircraft already in service in China.
In China, Xian Aircraft has been producing for 20 years subassemblies for Bombardier's amphibious firefighting aircraft, the Canadair 215 and 415* aircraft. Shenyang Aircraft Company has been producing baggage compartment doors for Bombardier's Dash 8 turboprops for 14 years.
Japan
Japan also plays an important role for Bombardier in Asia. In November 1999, the Japan Civil Aviation Board (JCAB) selected a special-mission version of the Global Express business jet to perform airways calibration and flight inspection duties. Other Bombardier sales in the country include three Q300 turboprop aircraft to Air Nippon, two CRJ 200 Series jets to J-Air, one Q200 turboprop to Nagasaki Airways, plus two CRJ 200 Series aircraft to The Fair Inc., a new Japanese regional carrier. The Fair Inc. will become the first operator in Japan of the CRJ, an aircraft that transformed air travel in North America by enhancing point-to-point service and easing the burden on the hub-and-spoke system.
Bombardier Aerospace also enjoys a long-established partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Japan. Currently, MHI builds the wing for the Global Express and the new Continental* super midsize business jet. MHI also manufactures the complete fuselage for the Q400 turboprop airliner. In addition, JAMCO in Sendai, is a service facility for Bombardier's Challenger(R) and Global Express aircraft.
Singapore
Bombardier Aerospace is also well represented in Singapore, an important business center for both Asian and western organizations. Jet Maintenance of Singapore is an authorized service facility for Learjet and Challenger business jets. Bombardier Aerospace also maintains two spare parts depots to serve the needs of their regional airliner and corporate jet operators throughout Asia-Pacific.
Australia
Bombardier Aerospace program partner Hawker-de Havilland designs and builds the tailcone and auxiliary power unit installation for the all-new Continental business jet. Also, Kendell Aviation is starting to take deliveries of its 12 CRJ200 Series jet airliners. Two new Q200 turboprop aircraft will soon join three others in service with Surveillance Australia's Coastwatch program, and Sunstate Airlines of Brisbane will place the first Q300 50-passenger airliner into Australian regional airline service.
Taiwan
Aerospace Industry Development Corporation (AIDC) designs and builds the horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer and aft fuselage for the Continental business jet, the all-new entry in the emerging super midsize segment. As for regional aircraft, UNI Air continued to enlarge its Q Series fleet with an order for one Q200. It was the 25th Dash 8 or Q Series ordered by UNI Air or its predecessor company, Great China Airways. The orders cover all models of the aircraft - Q100, Q200, Q300 and Q400.
Thailand
Two Bombardier multi-role amphibious Canadair 215* aircraft are employed in a variety of maritime, search and rescue and VIP transportation roles in Thailand.
Bombardier Transportation also enjoys a strong presence in Asia. The business unit recently launched a manufacturing facility in Qingdao, in Shandong Province, China with its joint venture partner, Power Pacific Corporation Ltd. and Sifang, and has received an order to build 300 intercity passenger vehicles for the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China.
Additionally, Bombardier Transportation has signed a cooperation agreement with MHI of Japan, for the development and utilization of MHI's Airport People Mover (APM) technology in western markets.
Bombardier Transportation also completed, in 1998, the installation and commissioning for the first phase of the automated rapid transit system for the city of Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the world's leading business and regional aircraft manufacturer with operations in three countries. Unmatched in the 20- to 70-passenger regional carrier market, Bombardier Aerospace offers complete families of turboprop and regional jet aircraft. It is unsurpassed in the worldwide corporate jet market with the industry's widest range of business jets, offering both full and fractional ownership, and also produces firefighting/maritime aircraft. It provides technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training to business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc. is a Canadian corporation active in the fields of aerospace, rail transportation equipment, recreational products and financial services. It operates plants in 12 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90 per cent of its revenues are generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 1999, totaled $11.5 billion Cdn.
* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. (R) Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc.
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