MONTREAL, QUEBEC- Aviation – Bombardier Commercial Aircraft today disclosed that Trident Jet (Jersey) Limited, a sister company of Falko Regional Aircraft Limited, is the previously unidentified customer that signed the firm purchase agreement for eight CRJ900 aircraft and six options announced in October 2015. The aircraft are assigned to and operated by CityJet on a wet lease basis – which means it provides aircraft and crews – on behalf of SAS (Scandinavian Airlines). Additionally, Bombardier announced today that Trident Jet (Jersey) Limited has exercised four of its options also to be operated by CityJet.
Based on the list price of the CRJ900 aircraft, the value of the exercised options for four CRJ900 aircraft is approximately $183.9 million US.
During a special event held at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Québec facility, Bombardier and CityJet celebrated the delivery of the first five of eight CRJ900 aircraft ordered in October 2015. Included amongst the deliveries, was Bombardier’s milestone 400th CRJ900 aircraft bearing serial number 15400.
“As the newest CRJ900 aircraft operator, CityJet is delighted that the keystone 400th CRJ900 aircraft is amongst our fleet that is already delivering high utilization and high reliability,” said Pat Byrne, Executive Chairman, CityJet. “These deliveries are a major milestone for us, being the first brand new aircraft to be delivered to CityJet in its 23-year history. We are equally proud to be operating the eight CRJ900 aircraft on behalf of SAS and look forward to many years of excellent service from the aircraft and a growing collaboration between CityJet and Bombardier.”
“Celebrating new customers is always a pleasure and today, we also congratulate Trident Jet (Jersey) Limited on its additional CRJ900 aircraft acquisition as well as operator CityJet on the welcome addition to its growing CRJ fleet; this signals the airline’s confidence that the CRJ900 aircraft will deliver the outstanding performance for which it is well known,” said Colin Bole, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “CityJet has serviced some of Europe’s best airlines over the years and we are confident that the airline’s CRJ900 aircraft will complement this operation.”
About CityJet
CityJet is an Irish regional airline with its headquarters in Swords, Co. Dublin and operating a fleet of 18 Avro RJ85 jets on its own scheduled network, primarily serving London City Airport, and on wet lease services for Air France from Paris. CityJet also operates a fleet of Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft on behalf of SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) based in the Nordic region.
CityJet was established in 1993 to operate services between Dublin and London City Airport and today operates ten routes from across Europe to London City, where it currently holds approximately 30% of the airport slots. CityJet also has a significant wet lease business, including services on behalf of Air France and SAS and operates a wide range of ad hoc charters on behalf of sports groups, the entertainment industry, tour operators and corporate customers.
In March 2016, CityJet was purchased by an investment group led by Executive Chairman Pat Byrne. The airline is now focused on delivering a strategy which sees it consolidate its scheduled business and grow its position as a leading provider of wet lease services to customer airlines. www.cityjet.com
About CRJ Series Aircraft
Every 10 seconds a CRJ Series regional jet takes off somewhere in the world. The CRJ Series family of aircraft has transported more than 1.64 billion passengers to become the world’s most successful regional jet program — linking people and communities like no other. The CRJ Series regional jets have revolutionized aviation with their proven efficiency, reliability and profitability.
The CRJ Series regional jets share commonality benefits that provide flexibility to operators and allow them to optimize their fleets to meet specific market demands. No other regional aircraft deliver this capability. Optimized for medium-haul regional routes, these aircraft can provide up to 10 per cent cash operating cost advantage over competing jets.
Each of the CRJ aircraft models offers its own distinct advantages. The CRJ200 regional jet offers outstanding ownership cost, ideal for opening new routes and markets. The CRJ700 regional jet is the lightest aircraft in its category, delivering impressive efficiency, performance and fuel burn savings, while the CRJ900 regional jet offers tremendous flexibility and is ideally suited for growing markets. The CRJ1000 regional jet, which has the highest passenger capacity in the family, delivers the lowest seat-mile cost in the regional jet market and burns up to 13 per cent less fuel than its competitors.
Since its launch, the CRJ Series family of regional jets has stimulated the regional jet market. In North America alone, it accounts for over 20 per cent of all jet departures. Globally, the family operates more than 200,000 flights per month.
The CRJ Series aircraft family includes over 100 owners and operators in approximately 40 countries. The worldwide fleet has logged over 43.5 million flight hours.
Bombardier has booked a total of 1,887 firm orders for CRJ Series aircraft.
