Bombardier Aerospace's CRJ700* will be the first 70-seat regional jet in the Asia/Pacific region with the delivery on October 31, 2003 of two Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft to Shandong Airlines of The People's Republic of China.
Shandong Airlines, based at Jinan in Shandong Province, currently operates ten 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ200* regional jets, five of which were acquired from Bombardier and five of which are leased from General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The Bombardier CRJ700 represents the first 70-seat regional jet to be certified by Chinese Aviation Authorities for operation in China.
"We believe the CRJ700 with its low seat-mile costs, will help us achieve our financial objectives," said Yu Haitian, vice president, Shandong Airlines.
"We are pleased that Shandong Airlines will be showcasing the Bombardier CRJ700 in China," said Steven A. Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft. "With its excellent seat-mile operating economics, long range and proven performance demonstrated by 113 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft already in operation throughout North America and Europe, we are confident that the CRJ700 will set the standards for regional jets in this expanding marketplace."
There are 35 Bombardier Aerospace corporate and commercial aircraft operating in China. With 28 Bombardier CRJ twin-jet airliners and three Bombardier Q400 70-seat turboprops currently in service, Bombardier is the largest supplier of regional aircraft to the Chinese market, helping airlines and government develop a network of regional airline markets linking smaller communities with each other and with major hubs. China Yunnan Airlines of Kunming operates six CRJ200* aircraft; Shandong Airlines operates ten CRJ200 and, with the recent delivery, two CRJ700 jets; and Shanghai Airlines of Shanghai has three CRJ200 aircraft. China United Airlines and China Ocean Aviation, both of Beijing, operate seven Bombardier Challenger 800 aircraft, which are corporate versions of the CRJ200. Chang An Airlines (Hainan Group), has three 70-seat Q400* turboprop airliners.
In addition, Shandong Airlines and Bombardier jointly own and operate China's first regional jet training facility, Qingdao Fei Sheng International Aviation Technology Development Corporation Ltd. (QFS) in Qingdao. The facility, which opened in April 2002, is equipped with a CAE Inc. CRJ200 Level "D" full flight simulator. Bombardier Aerospace also operates a spare parts depot in Beijing for regional aircraft customers.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative aviation products and provides services for the regional, business and amphibious aircraft markets. It also offers Bombardier Flexjet* and Bombardier Skyjet* business aircraft programs, technical services, and aircraft maintenance and pilot training for business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and services company, is a world-leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It also provides financial services and asset management in business areas aligned with its core expertise. Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, the Corporation has a workforce of some 75,000 people and manufacturing facilities in 25 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2003 stood at $23.7 billion Cdn. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and BBDd.F).
* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
| Information: | Bert Cruickshank |
| Bombardier Aerospace | |
| Toronto: (416) 375-3030 |