Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Warsaw-based Eurolot has converted options on six Q400 NextGen airliners to a firm order that will increase its fleet to 14 Q400 NextGen aircraft.

Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen airliner, the transaction announced today is valued at approximately $190 million US.

Eurolot’s firm order for eight Q400 NextGen airliners with 12 options was announced on March 9, 2012, and delivery of the first aircraft was announced on May 17, 2012.

As previously announced, Eurolot has joined Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s Smart Parts Program for the Q400 aircraft. The Smart Parts Program is customized to an airline’s specific operational and dispatch reliability requirements and provides the airline with competitive and predictable advanced component exchange and repair costs, as well as superior availability of key components.

“Our fleet renewal program and route expansion are proceeding very well with Bombardier’s Q400 NextGen aircraft,” said Mariusz Dabrowski, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eurolot. “The very competitive operating costs of the aircraft will benefit further from the Smart Parts Program.”

“We are grateful for Eurolot’s continuing confidence in our Q400 NextGen aircraft program,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “This order and others placed recently are evidence that the Q400 NextGen aircraft is the right airplane for today’s extremely tough marketplace. Some 15 new operators and leasing companies have joined the Q400 aircraft family since 2010, with five having acquired or ordered their aircraft this year. This growth, which has resulted in more than 40 operators worldwide, is indicative of the outstanding operational flexibility, fuel efficiency and performance capability of our new-generation Q400 turboprop.”

Including the transaction announced today, Bombardier has booked firm orders for 460 Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprops,and delivered aircraft are in service with more than 40 operators in 33 countries, on six continents. These aircraft have transported more than 227 million passengers and have logged more than 3.5 million flight hours and over 3.8 million take-offs and landings.

Source: Bombardier
Photo: Rob Vogelaar Z.A.P.P.