Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Pluna Líneas Aéreas Uruguayas S.A. has signed a follow-on order for three CRJ900 NextGen regional jetliners. The airline currently operates 10 CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, the only aircraft type in its fleet.

Based on the list price of the CRJ900 NextGen airliner, this firm order from Pluna is valued at approximately $129 million US.

Founded in 1936, and headquartered in Carrasco, Pluna is Uruguay’s flag carrier and serves destinations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. The airline’s main hub is at Carrasco International Airport, near Montevideo.

“The Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft has allowed us to increase frequencies and expand to new markets,” said Matias Campiani, Chief Executive Officer, Pluna. “The aircraft offers a combination of low operating costs, exceptional passenger comfort and proven high reliability.”

“This CRJ NextGen aircraft order from Pluna continues to grow Bombardier’s presence in South America,“ said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We look forward to continually meeting the needs of Pluna and other airlines around the world with our industry-leading family of CRJ regional jets.”

The order announced today increases firm orders for CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen airliners to 265 aircraft, with 244 of these delivered as of January 31, 2011. Including today’s order, a total of 1,708 CRJ Series aircraft have been ordered, with 1,628 delivered as of January 31, 2011.

First introduced to airline passengers in November 1992, Bombardier’s CRJ jetliner has grown to become the best-selling regional aircraft program in history. The CRJ jetliner family includes the original 50-seat CRJ100/200, 70-seat CRJ700, 75-seat CRJ705, 88-seat CRJ900 and the new 100-seat CRJ1000 aircraft. The current-production 70-, 88- and 100-seat aircraft are all “NextGen” models. Worldwide, 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 to airline operations, more than 30 customers operate corporate variants of CRJ Series aircraft.

Source and photo: Bombardier