Regional Carrier Ordered Up To 24 Of The Aircraft In June

China's sole specialized regional airline, China Express Airlines (China Express), is the previously announced unidentified customer that had placed a firm order for 16 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and had taken options for eight additional airliners of the same type. This purchase agreement was initially announced by Bombardier on June 30, 2014.

The announcement was made in Beijing, in the presence of His Excellency Li Keqiang, Premier, People's Republic of China; The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Hu Xiaojun, Chairman, China Express; Wu Longjiang, President, China Express; Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc.; and Jianwei Zhang, President, Bombardier China.

As previously announced by Bombardier, based on the list price for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $727 million USD. The value could increase to $1.12 billion USD should China Express exercise its options.

"Only eight years after first starting operations, China Express provides regional passenger services to nearly 50 cities throughout China with its all-Bombardier fleet of four CRJ200 aircraft and eleven 84-seat CRJ900 NextGen aircraft," said Mr. Wu. "With its excellent reliability and economics, the CRJ900 NextGen airliner continues to be central to our development. We look forward to taking delivery of these additional aircraft and connecting more tier-two and tier-three cities, and more people, together."

"When Bombardier launched the CRJ regional jet in 1989, it gave birth to the regional jet market and revolutionized aviation in both the United States and Europe. The CRJ family of aircraft then went to become the best-selling regional aircraft program in history," declared Mr. Beaudoin. "We are honored to be able to participate in a similar manner in the development of China's regional air travel, thanks to China Express' bold vision and expansion strategy."

"China Express' rapid growth and success in the regional market have been nothing short of spectacular, and we could not be prouder to be associated with such an innovative and pioneering airline," added Andy Solem, Vice President, Sales, China and Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

"Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has been making great strides in establishing its presence in China - steadily growing its local roots, expanding its customer and industrial base, and leveraging the company's track-record of success in the country."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.bombardier.com