Estonian Air Orders Three CRJ900 NextGens and Options Two

Estonian Air of Tallinn, Estonia has signed a firm order for three CRJ900 NextGen aircraft and has also taken options on two CRJ900 NextGens.

Based on the list price for the CRJ900 NextGen, Bombardier values the contract at approximately US$123 million, which could increase to $211 million should both options be converted to firm orders.

Estonian Air’s firm order replaces a firm order for three CRJ900 NextGens that was announced on March 10, 2008 as part of a purchase by SAS Scandinavian Airlines and three of its affiliate airlines. SAS reduced its stake in Estonian Air from 49 per cent to 10 per cent on May 10 when the Estonian government invested €21 million in the airline and the Estonian government has the right to buy SAS’ remaining 10 per cent shareholding by 2014.

“We require aircraft with less capacity than our mainline jets,” says Andrus Aljas, president and chief executive officer of Estonian Air. “The CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, which offer an excellent combination of performance, operating economics and passenger comfort, are ideally suited for our requirements and will be deployed as part of our fleet optimization program.”

Estonian Air has signed an order for three Bombardier CRJ900 NextGens to replace an order placed perviously by SAS when Estonian Air was a more closely held affiliate of the Scandinavian carrier. Estonian Air has also taken options on two additional CRJ 900 NextGens

“Estonian Air’s CRJ900 NextGen aircraft will join the 530 CRJ Series and Q-Series aircraft that are in service with, or have been ordered by, operators in Europe,” says Gary Scott, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “These aircraft are an important component in the continent’s airline network as carriers seek to reduce their environmental footprint while sustaining or improving yields.”

Including the order from Estonian Air, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 1,709 CRJ-series aircraft, including 262 CRJ900s and CRJ900 NextGens. As of July 31, 2010, 1,597 CRJ-series aircraft (including 234 CRJ900s and CRJ900 NextGens) had been delivered to customers around the world.

CRJ-series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines and have logged more than 28 million flight hours and over 23 million take-off and landing cycles. In addition, corporate variants of CRJ-series aircraft are in service with more than 30 operators.