- Canadian airline to acquire 20 aircraft with options for 25 more
- WestJetter families, Canadian regional airport delegations, and media get close-up look at the Q400 NextGen aircraft visiting Calgary
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that WestJet, an Alberta partnership, has signed a conditional order for 20 Q400 NextGen turboprops following the letter of intent to purchase the aircraft that was announced by WestJet on May 1, 2012. The transaction also includes options on an additional 25 Q400 NextGen aircraft.
Based on list price, a firm order for 20 Q400 NextGen aircraft would be valued at approximately $683 million US, and could increase to approximately $1.59 billion US should the 25 options be converted to firm orders.
The announcement was made today in Calgary where WestJetters and their families were on hand for a close-up look at the Q400 NextGen aircraft on display at the airline’s Campus. Also in attendance, were potential regional airport delegations from across the country and media representatives. Earlier this year, an internal WestJet poll revealed that over 90 per cent of WestJetters were in favour of launching a regional airline to serve more communities across Canada. Set to begin operations in the second half of 2013, the regional airline is anticipated to serve regional airports from coast to coast that are currently considered under-served.
“We are delighted to welcome our friends from Bombardier to our campus today as well as representatives from the more than 30 airports across Canada hoping to have WestJet service in their communities in the future,” said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. “Our launch plans are progressing nicely and we look forward to expanding to new communities when we launch in the second half of 2013.”
“This is an exciting time for Bombardier and WestJetters alike. We’re equally keen to see how WestJet will adopt the Q400 NextGen aircraft into its unique operations and it’s a thrill to see the enthusiasm as the airline solicits feedback from the country’s regional airports and its guests,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 NextGen aircraft’s superior economics, outstanding fuel economy and excellent passenger comfort give WestJet the flexibility to service a diverse number of routes and airports. We look forward to the waiving of the order conditionality in the near future.”
As Canada’s second-largest carrier, WestJet currently provides scheduled and chartered air service in North America and the Caribbean.
Bombardier has booked firm orders for 428 Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners and delivered aircraft are in service with approximately 40 operators in 30 countries, on six continents. These aircraft have transported more than 177 million passengers and have logged more than 3.2 million flight hours and over 3.5 million take-offs and landings.
About Q400 NextGen aircraft
The Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner, which is built at Bombardier’s Toronto, Ontario facility, is the most recent development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft, and the advanced successor to Bombardier’s Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. Optimized for short-haul operations, the “comfortably greener,” 70- to 80-seat Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint.
The Q400 airliner was designed to meet the requirements of contemporary regional air transport, characterized by both turboprop and jet missions. Setting new environmental standards, the Q400 aircraft uses 30 to 40 per cent less fuel and produces 30 to 40 per cent fewer emissions on routes where it has replaced similar-capacity, older jets. The Q400 aircraft’s maximum cruise speed of 360 knots lets the aircraft fly on demand-driven interchangeable schedules with jets. However, the Q400 aircraft can slow down to achieve fuel parity with other turboprops on a per-seat basis, while still maintaining both speed and cost advantages.
The Q400 NextGen aircraft features an enhanced cabin environment with the introduction of LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead luggage bins. These features, combined with the aircraft’s Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system, provide an excellent cabin experience for passengers.
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.
Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Notes to Editors
- Photo: Images of the Q400 NextGen aircraft in WestJet livery.
- Additional information on the Q400 aircraft is available at: www.q400nextgen.com.
- Follow @Bombardier_Aero on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier Aerospace.
- To receive our press releases, please visit the Email Subscription and RSS Feed section.
Active Noise and Vibration Suppression, Bombardier, NextGen, Q400 and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
For Information
Marc Duchesne
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
+1 416 375 3030