| As airlines in the Asia/Pacific region continue to focus on basic economics and forge closer ties between major airlines and their code-sharing affiliates, they are turning more and more to Bombardier Regional Aircraft regional jets and turboprops to meet their requirements.
Since the last Singapore Airshow in February, 2006 the Bombardier Regional Aircraft fleet - in service or on firm order - in the region has grown from 207 to 253 Bombardier CRJ and Q Series turboprop aircraft. The current total is comprised of 62 CRJ and 191 Dash 8/Q Series aircraft.
The Asia/Pacific market for aircraft with between 20 and 149 seats is expected to grow significantly and, because of its current large customer base, Bombardier expects to deliver a considerable number. Bombardier's Market Forecast for the period 2007-2026 sees delivery from all manufacturers of 1,340 units in the Asia/Pacific region (excluding the People's Republic of China [PRC]). The Forecast predicts that nine per cent of these aircraft will be in the 20- to 59-seat category (Bombardier Regional Aircraft offers the Q200, Q300 and CRJ200); 31 per cent will have from 60 to 99 seats (Bombardier offers the Q400, CRJ700 NextGen and CRJ900 NextGen); and 60 per cent will have 100 to 149 seats (Bombardier's CRJ1000 NextGen is due to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the company continues to study the CSeries).
For the PRC, the forecast demand is for 1,660 aircraft, of which four per cent will have between 20 and 59 seats, 34 per cent will have from 60 to 99 seats and 62 per cent will have from 100 to 149 seats.
Taken together, the Asia/Pacific region, including the PRC, is expected to take delivery of 3,000 aircraft over the next 20 years - 910 more than Europe.
"Our strength lies in our complete families of regional jet and turboprop aircraft ranging from 26 to 86 seats and, by 2010, 100 seats," said James Dailly, Senior Vice-president, Sales at Bombardier Regional aircraft. "This is a combination that no other manufacturer can match. Because of our aircraft families, we can offer airlines a one-stop shopping solution to their fleet requirements and after sales support, and with our years of experience in the Asia/Pacific region, we can help airlines develop and operate over new route systems."
What sets Bombardier regional aircraft apart from competing products is their operating cost advantage, and that includes both the CRJ and Q Series families. The 360-knot (667 km/h) Q400 takes this further: no other regional airplane can match the operating costs of the Q400. Based on an $80 U.S. fare, a 74-seat Q400 needs only 33 passengers to break even; the other 41 seats represent profit.
The Q400 is also dispelling the notion that turboprops cannot compete with jets. ANA and JAL in Japan and QantasLink in Australia are doing just that with the Q400 and with remarkable success.
"Our aircraft families combine flexibility and the lowest operating costs," said Mr. Dailly. "Having the same pilot type rating, as our CRJ and Q Series aircraft do, is also very important and cost effective. In sum, our aircraft are well proven in diverse markets around the world with high dispatch reliability and high schedule completion rate."
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