First 70-Seat Regional Jet in Asia With Delivery to China's Shandong Airlines

Bombardier's lengthy CRJ700 will be the first 70-seat regional jet in the Asia/Pacific region with the recent delivery 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 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 CRJ200s; Shandong Airlines operates ten CRJ200s 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 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.

FMI: www.aero.bombardier.com