Bombardier Aerospace today welcomed Grupo Mexicana and its regional subsidiary MexicanaLink to the family of more than 50 airlines which operate Bombardier’s CRJ Series family of regional jets.

An inauguration ceremony and press conference, hosted by Grupo Mexicana at their facilities in Guadalajara, was attended by Mexican President, Felipe Calderón, as well as many other local dignitaries and guests. Gastón Azcárraga, Chairman of the Board and Manuel Borja, Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Mexicana, along with Rod Sheridan, Vice President, Asset Management and Fernando Rodriguez, Sales Director (The Americas) of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft were also present. One of MexicanaLink’s recently acquired previously owned CRJ200 aircraft was on static display and many guests took the opportunity to tour it.

MexicanaLink will operate 13 previously owned CRJ200 aircraft acquired from a third party. Based in Guadalajara, the airline will start service on March 16 with two CRJ200 aircraft. MexicanaLink will initially operate several routes from Guadalajara.

“The excellent economics of the CRJ200 regional jet are well suited to our operations, and we will fly the aircraft on routes which are complimentary to Mexicana’s and MexicanaClick’s which use larger jets,” said Ricardo Bastón, Executive Vice President, Corporate Planning and Fleet Transactions, Grupo Mexicana.

“Bombardier is delighted that Grupo Mexicana and MexicanaLink have joined the more than 50 operators around the world which fly our CRJ aircraft family,” said Mr. Sheridan. “The CRJ Series aircraft was instrumental in revolutionizing the regional networks in North America, and we are confident that they will also be very successful in Central and South America.”

Grupo Mexicana currently operates 90 larger jet aircraft serving more than 50 destinations in Mexico, North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. In 2008, they transported 11.7 million passengers.

As of January 31, 2009, Bombardier had delivered 1,527 CRJ Series regional jets, including 1,021 CRJ100/200/440 aircraft to operators worldwide. 

Previously owned CRJ100/200/440 aircraft continue to enjoy secondary market opportunities as economical commercial airliners, efficient and spacious corporate converted aircraft, and as innovative package freighters. Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s Asset Management Group is dedicated to the management and remarketing of Bombardier’s previously owned commercial aircraft portfolio.

During the ceremony, guests were apprised of Bombardier’s Mexico operations which began in May 2006. Currently, approximately 1,050 employees work at Bombardier’s facilities located at the Queretaro Aerospace Park and at El Marques Industrial Park, in Queretaro where they manufacture electrical harnesses and structural aircraft components, including the mid-fuselage for the Challenger 850 business jet, the flight control work package for the Q400 airliner, and the aft fuselage for the Global family of aircraft.