Feb 09 2012

China Express Airlines orders nine CRJ900 NextGen aircraft

ChinaExpressAirLogoChina Express Airlines has been announced as the previously undisclosed customer for six Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, with the possible addition of a further five options.

Bombardier announced in October of 2011 that it had secured a conditional purchase agreement with an unnamed Chinese airline for six CRJ900 NextGens and five options. This announcement is the first CRJ900 NextGen sale in China.

China Express Airlines CRJ900 NextGen

If all 11 aircraft are ordered, the deal would be worth $491 million at list prices according to Bombardier. China Express already operates a fleet of five Bombardier CRJ200s.

China Express Airlines is China’s first private regional airline and is based in Guiyang, Guizhou..The airline has operated the CRJ 200 since 2006.

More than 80 Bombardier-produced aircraft, including CRJ series and Q series commercial aircraft, as well as Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets, are currently operating in China.

Bombardier has recorded firm orders for 1,709 CRJ series aircraft (including 266 Bombardier CRJ900s and CRJ900 NextGens), with 1,661 CRJ series aircraft (including 256 CRJ900s and CRJ900 NextGens) delivered as of December 31, 2011.

Currently, China Express Airlines operates the following CRJ aircraft:

B-3001    CRJ 200ER    MSN 7565

B-3012    CRJ200ER    MSN 7557

B-3016    CRJ200ER    MSN 7614

B-3565    CRJ200ER    MSN 7690

B-7700    CRJ200ER    MSN 7704

Feb 08 2012

WestJet to proceed with short-haul division

Westjet LogoWestJet Airlines will launch a new regional operation to serve smaller Canadian destinations after 91 percent of its staff agreed to the plan. WestJet is expected to launch the new service before the end of 2013. It is talking with Bombardier and ATR about buying a single common fleet of turboprop aircraft to operate its regional structure.

Canada’s second largest  airline also reported lower quarterly earnings this week that were still higher than market analyst expectations.

WestJet announced publicly that it is requesting proposals from Bombardier for its DHC-8 Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft, and from ATR for its ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline expects to submit an order by mid-2012.

Operating a common fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft has been central to WestJet’s strategy as a low-cost airline, as maintenance and training costs are reduced as a result. The airline will continue that plan with a single fleet of turboprops for its new feeder airline.

WestJet, which flies within Canada and to holiday travel destinations in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, has long held a plan for adding a second fleet for some time as a new revenue source for the airline.

Feb 07 2012

Sukhoi planning possible new regional jet program with Italy

Rumors have surfaced that Sukhoi is collaborating with companies in Italy to develop a new 130 seat regional jet, tentatively called the Superjet New Generation (SSJ-130NG).

Reports indicate that the aircraft is to be a stretch of the Sukhoi Superjet 100’s fuselage, with mainly composite wings and new engines. These reports also indicate that representatives from the Russian and Italian governments and several aerospace companies in both nations have been discussing the development of a new aircraft for over a year.

The project is likely to be a joint venture as in the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft-Alenia Aermacchi cooperative agreement behind the SSJ100. Another possible option is a partnership between Sukhoi’s parent company, United Aircraft Corporation, and Alenia or its owner, Finmeccanica.

Feb 04 2012

Bulgaria Air places order for Embraer 190s

Bulgaria AirBulgaria Air announced that the airline would be placing an order with Embraer for nine Embraer 190 aircraft to be delivered in full by the end of 2014.

The airline’s plan is to increase its weakly frequency of flights to some European destinations and relaunch its flights to Prague with the addition of the Embraer 190s to the fleet.

The first aircraft is expected to be delivered to the airline in March of 2012, with three more to arrive by the end of the year. The aircraft will be configured for 108 passengers, eight of those to be business class.