Delta orders up to 70 Bombardier regional jets valued at $3.3B
by The Canadian Press
Contract was widely expected since Delta a long-time Bombardier customer, has world's largest fleet
MONTREAL—Bombardier has secured an order for up to 70 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets from Delta Air Lines at a potential value of $3.29-billion.
The Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer says Delta has placed a firm order for 40 aircraft, valued at $1.85-billion based on current list prices.
The airline also has options for 30 more planes to be operated by Delta’s regional carriers.
The planes will be configured with 76 seats in a two-class cabin.
The contract was widely expected since Delta is a long-time Bombardier customer and has the world’s largest fleet of CRJs—Bombardier’s main line of jets for commercial airlines.
Delta Connection carriers currently fly 466 CRJ series aircraft, including 286 CRJ200, 79 CRJ700 and 101 CRJ900.
Delta carrier Comair became the first North American airline to fly a CRJ100 in 1993.
The current CRJ900 planes are flown by Pinnacle Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and SkyWest Airlines.
Delta president Ed Bastien said it selected Bombardier’s CRJ900 NextGen because it is a proven cost-efficient aircraft and is the right size to satisfy agreements with pilots to add 70 more of the jetliners to its fleet.
Bombardier has now recorded firm orders for 1,775 CRJ aircraft, including 314 CRJ900 planes.
The regional jets are in service with more than 60 airlines in over 50 countries around the world.
