Air Canada and Bombardier sign purchase agreement for up to 90 CRJ regional jets

Air Canada has signed a definitive purchase agreement with Bombardier Aerospace covering firm orders for 15 Bombardier CRJ700 Series 705 aircraft, and 30 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft of which 15 are firm and 15 may be cancelled without penalty. The purchase agreement also contains options for an additional 45 aircraft.

Deliveries of the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 are scheduled to commence in October 2004, with the 75-seat CRJ700 Series 705 deliveries scheduled to begin in May 2005. These aircraft will be operated by Air Canada's regional airline subsidiary, Air Canada Jazz, on short and medium haul North American routes.

"The addition of new Bombardier aircraft in the Air Canada Jazz fleet will enable us to provide the flexibility and cost competitiveness to serve customers on North American markets with high frequency, low cost jet service on a financially viable basis," said Joseph D. Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada Jazz. "This represents a major turning point for Jazz and its employees. Together with Air Canada, one of the original launch customers for the Canadair Regional Jet, we are proud to support the Canadian aerospace industry as one of the world's largest operators of Canadian-built aircraft."

Air Canada Jazz will configure the Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft in a single Hospitality class of service with 50 all-leather seats, four seats abreast offering 31 inches of legroom. The Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft has a cruising speed of 860 km/h and a range of up to 3,547 km with a total payload of 5,942 kg.

The CRJ705 aircraft will be configured in two classes of service with 10 seats in Executive Class featuring three abreast seating offering 38 inches of legroom, and 65 seats in Hospitality with four abreast seating offering 34 inches of legroom. Both cabins will feature all leather seating. The Bombardier CRJ705 aircraft has a cruising speed of 880 km/h and a range of more than 3,500 km with a total payload of 7,778 kg including a cargo payload of 700 kg.

See other recent news from: Air Canada