Third Additional Order From PAS For Dash-8 Variant

Bombardier Aerospace has signed a contract with Petroleum Air Services (PAS) of Cairo, Egypt for the sale of one additional Q300 turboprop airliner. The list price value for the aircraft on firm order is approximately $17.4 million US.

When delivered, the aircraft will increase Petroleum Air Services' fleet to five Q300s. Petroleum Air Services’ initial order for two 50-passenger Q300 turboprops was announced in October 2001. Subsequent orders for Q300 aircraft were announced in January 2003 and October 2004.

"Our current Q300 aircraft have been performing very well in our hot and sandy climate so we have no hesitation in meeting our growing capacity requirements with an additional aircraft," said General Hassan Mahmoud Rashed, Chairman and Managing Director, PAS. "Passenger acceptance has been very good because of the Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system."

PAS is based at Cairo International Airport and services several sites within a radius of 700 km (380 nm) on behalf of Egyptian and multi-national companies. It also operates charter flights within Egypt and to surrounding countries in support of the tourism sector.

"We are pleased that Petroleum Air Services sees the robustness, reliability, economics and passenger acceptance attributes of the Q300 aircraft. The fact that they have come back for more is surely the truest vote of confidence in our product," said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft.

Bombardier reports that more than 800 Q Series aircraft (as the Dash-8 has been known as since 1996) -- including 247 Q300 turboprops -- have now been ordered by operators worldwide

FMI: www.bombardier.com