Smart Aviation Company of Cairo in Egypt has signed a firm order to acquire two Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft, and has taken options on an additional three.
Based on the list price for the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the value of the firm order is approximately US$62 million, which could increase to $158 million should all three options be converted to firm orders.
A corporate-jet charter operator since its founding as a subsidiary of EgyptAir Holding Company in May 2007, Smart Aviation has formed a commercial-airline subsidiary and will use its Q400 NextGen aircraft to launch scheduled and charter services to complement its corporate-aircraft activities throughout the Middle East.
“Middle East tourism and business travel are growing steadily and we want to be in a position to meet this growth with efficient, reliable, economical and passenger-friendly aircraft,” says Wael El-Maadawy, chairman and managing director of Smart Aviation Company. “Bombardier turboprop aircraft have excelled on these attributes in the Middle East operating environment for several years, so the Q400 NextGen aircraft was the first choice for our new service.”
Smart Aviation Company, a corporate-jet charter subsidiary of EgyptAir Holding Company, has formed a commercial-airline unit. This subsidiary will use two Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprops ordered on August 30, 2010 to fly scheduled and charter services throughout the Middle East. Smart Aviation has optioned three more Q400 NextGen turboprops for potential future growth of its airline operation
“The Q400 NextGen aircraft is optimized for the intra-regional, shorter routes in the expanding North African and Middle Eastern travel market,” says Gary Scott, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We at Bombardier are confident that the Q400 NextGen aircraft is well-suited to Smart Aviation’s new venture and welcome the company to the growing family of Q400 NextGen aircraft operators.”
Optimized for short-haul operations, the 70-to-80-seat Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. Including Smart Aviation’s order, Bombardier has booked firm orders for a total of 391 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft, and as of April 30, 300 had been delivered. The aircraft are in service with more than 30 operators worldwide.
Related to this story:
- Luxair Identified as Customer for Four Bombardier Q400 NextGen Turboprops
- India’s SpiceJet Receives Its First Two Q400 NextGen Turboprops
- Porter Airlines Orders Four, Options Six Bombardier Q400 NextGen Turboprops
- Bombardier Wins Order for Seven More Q400 NextGens from QantasLink
- Canada’s Jazz Orders 15 Q400 NextGen Turboprops, Options 15 More
