Airline will offer a two-class interior in the Q400 aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Lagos, Nigeria-based Arik Air has placed a firm order for four Q400 high-speed turboprop airliners.
The value of the contract, based on the list price of the Q400 airliner, is approximately $104 million U.S.
Arik Air will offer a two-class interior in its Q400 airliners by configuring its aircraft with 10 seats at 34-inch (86.4 cm) pitch and 62 economy class seats at 31 inches (78.7 cm).
Arik Air’s current fleet includes four Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets with 10 business class seats and 65 economy class seats in a spacious cabin. It also operates three CRJ200 regional jets. The airline currently serves seven routes in Nigeria which will rise to eleven before introducing African West Coast and Intercontinental destinations later this year.
“We require the Q400 airliner especially for our Lagos-Port Harcourt service because of airstrip landing restrictions that eliminate the use of jet aircraft on this route,” said Michael McTighe, Chief Executive Officer, Arik Air. “Equally important is that the Q400 will offer considerable operating cost savings on the route, while providing equivalent flight times because of its 360-knot (667 km/h) cruise speed.”
“Arik Air is another airline that sees value in operating a mixed fleet of jet and turboprop aircraft,” said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. “The mix of CRJ200, CRJ900 and Q400 aircraft offers an ideal combination to meet the airline’s capacity, stage length and operating cost requirements.”
Including the order announced today, Bombardier has now received a total of 254 orders for Q400 airliners. As of April 30, 2007, 152 of these had been delivered to airlines in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and North America.
About Arik Air, Wings of Nigeria
Arik Air is a wholly owned Nigerian airline with a commitment to the people of Nigeria to deliver new standards in aviation. In October 2006 Arik Air introduced the first new commercial aircraft into Nigeria for over 20 years, flying domestic routes throughout the country before leading up to a full network of eleven destinations and three international routes on the African Continent. The airline also plans to commence intercontinental routes from Autumn 2007.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2007, were $14.8 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier, CRJ200, CRJ900 and Q400 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Notes to Editors
An image of an Arik Air Q400 aircraft is available in our Multimedia Library at: www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F15.jsp
For information
Marc Duchesne
Bombardier Aerospace
(514) 855-7989