Feb 03 2012
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) February 3rd, 2012, thus becoming the first Russian aircraft to gain certification under CS-25 rules.
This clears the way for European operators to operate the aircraft. Superjets are already in service with Aeroflot and Armavia of Armenia.
Feb 03 2012
Further to earlier reports on Estonian Air switching from Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to Embraer 170s and 190s, further details have become available.
The airline will lease four Embraer 170 aircraft from Finnair this month and is in talks with Embraer and aircraft leasing companies for eight more aircraft Estonian Air said in an e-mailed statement on February 3rd, 2012.
Estonian Air was to receive 30 million euros over the next two years to purchase five CRJ900 NextGen aircraft from Bombardier to assist in modernizing the airline’s fleet as other types of aircraft were removed from the fleet. Instead, Estonian Air will lease 12 airplanes from Embraer.
The first four Embraer 170 aircraft, acquired under a lease agreement with Finnair, are due to arrive this month, but the balance of the airline’s order could take as much as four years to be delivered. The delivery schedule and other terms for the remaining eight aircraft are currently under negotiation. Possible types being given consideration are Embraer 175s and 190s.
Feb 03 2012
Air Nostrum of Valencia, Spain took delivery of their 75th Bombardier commercial aircraft at Bombardier’s Mirabel facility in Quebec on February 2nd, 2012. The aircraft, a CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet, was accepted by Miguel Angel Falcon the General Manager of Air Nostrum.
This aircraft follows nine CRJ1000 NextGen, 11 CRJ900, and 35 CRJ200 regional jets the airline operates, as well as 19 Dash 8Q 300 turboprops that have been delivered to Air Nostrum.
Air Nostrum is one of the largest regional airlines in Europe and a member of the oneworld airline alliance. With some 2,000 employees, the airline operates more than 150,000 annual flights on more than 120 routes, and carries over 5 million passengers per year. The airline was also the launch customer for the CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet.
Bombardier has firm orders for 1,709 CRJ Series regional jets and 1,084 Q-Series turboprops.
Feb 02 2012
California Pacific Airlines, a start-up regional airline based in Carlsbad, has completed the first phase of the Federal Aviation Administration process for commercial flight certification and is on course to begin service later in 2012 operating Embraer 170 aircraft to start.
The airline has leased their first two planes, which are expected to be delivered in March or April of 2012. A mid to late summer launch for the airline is planned. California Pacific Airlines, also to be known as CPAir, intends to operate from Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport in California. Initial service will be to San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.
The first two leased aircraft to be delivered to the airline are Embraer 170s with a future goal of moving the fleet to the Embraer 190 if demand and growth allows.