100-Seat RJ To Enter Service In Late 2009
Bombardier announced Monday the formal launch of its CRJ1000
regional jet, the next major step in the evolution of its CRJ
line of regional aircraft.
Previously designated the CRJ900X jet, the CRJ1000 regional
airliner is designed specifically to meet the needs of growing
regional airlines for jets of up to 100 seats, with a focus on
extremely low operating costs and improvements to cabin
comfort.
"We anticipated the need for larger regional aircraft when we
introduced the CRJ700 regional jet in 1997 and the CRJ900 regional
jet in 2000. These aircraft are now the backbones of many airline
fleets worldwide," said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief
Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. "Today, with the CRJ1000
aircraft, Bombardier continues to build on its ongoing commitment
to product innovation. The CRJ1000 regional jet combines the proven
platform, reliability and flexible cabin configurations of its
predecessors with its closest competitor having up to 15 per cent
higher trip cash operating costs."
The new CRJ1000 regional jet is scheduled to enter service in
the fourth quarter of calendar year 2009. First flight is scheduled
for the summer of 2008. With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of
91,800 pounds, the CRJ1000 aircraft will offer a maximum range of
1,691 nautical miles with 100 passengers, under certain operating
conditions.
Bombardier claims when compared to older generation aircraft of
similar passenger capacity now in operation, the CRJ1000 will
provide substantially lower fuel consumption, and achieve up to 30
percent reduced carbon dioxide engine emissions.
At the moment, the 100-seat market is all-but-dominated by aged
DC-9s, and the variations-on-a-theme MD80-series. Boeing's 717 --
nee, MD95 -- is very similar to those planes, but with more
fuel-efficient turbofans. None of those aircraft are produced
today.
The CRJ1000 aircraft program is launched with 38 firm orders --
15 of which are conversions of CRJ900 orders -- and 23 conditional
orders and options. The following three customers have placed these
orders.
Brit Air of Morlaix, France, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air
France, has placed a firm order for eight CRJ1000 aircraft, and has
taken options on eight additional CRJ1000 aircraft. Based on
CRJ1000 list price, the value of Brit Air's eight firm ordered
aircraft is approximately $371 million US which could rise to $768
million US if the airline exercises its eight options.
With the launch of the CRJ1000 aircraft, My Way Airlines of
Italy is converting, as announced in September 2006, 15 of its 19
CRJ900 regional jet orders to CRJ1000 regional jets. The original
contract value for the 19 CRJ900 aircraft, based on CRJ900 aircraft
list price, was approximately $702 million US. This value will
increase to approximately $857 million US for four CRJ900 and 15
CRJ1000 aircraft, based on CRJ900 and CRJ1000 aircraft list
prices.
An undisclosed customer has placed a firm order for 15 of the
aircraft, with a conditional order for an additional 15. Based on
CRJ1000 list price, the contract value for this 15 aircraft firm
order is approximately $704 million US, which could increase to
$1.5 billion US if the airline's 15 conditional orders are
executed.