Bombardier Aerospace today welcomed Andes Líneas Aéreas of Salta, Argentina as another South American airline to select the Bombardier CRJ900 jetliner as the best aircraft to suit its requirements. The airline has leased two previously owned 90-seat CRJ900 aircraft to expand its fleet and reach out to new markets for both its scheduled and charter services.

Founded in 2006, Andes Líneas Aéreas currently operates three larger jetliners and flies to Salta, Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn, Jujuy, Córdoba and Puerto Iguazú. The airline also provides charter services, primarily to Brazil.

With its new CRJ900 aircraft, Andes Líneas Aéreas will increase its services to include daily flights to Salta, Jujuy, Córdoba, Puerto Madryn and flights three times a week to Puerto Iguazú and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.

“The Bombardier CRJ900 jetliner will give us an aircraft for routes on which our larger aircraft can at times be uneconomical to operate,” said Hector Bonafert, President, Andes Líneas Aéreas. “The CRJ900 jetliner has excellent economics.”

Other operators of CRJ Series aircraft in South America include Pluna Líneas Aéreas, the national airline of Uruguay, Aero Vip in Argentina, and Conviasa of Venezuela. Pluna operates six CRJ900 NextGen aircraft from its base in Montevideo, while Aero Vip has one CRJ900 NextGen aircraft in service. Conviasa operates four CRJ700 NextGen airliners.

As of October 31, 2009, Bombardier had delivered 1,569 CRJ Series aircraft, including 222 CRJ900 airliners. CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 operators in 38 countries.