Bombardier Aerospace announced today that SkyWest, Inc. of St. George, Utah has placed a firm order for four CRJ700 NextGen airliners. The aircraft will be flown by SkyWest Airlines under the Delta Connection banner in a dual-class configuration with 65 seats.

Based on the list price of the CRJ700 NextGen airliner, the contract is valued at approximately $148 million US.

SkyWest Airlines and its sister airline, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, currently operate 406 CRJ200, CRJ700 and CRJ900 regional jets, the world’s largest fleet of CRJ aircraft.

“This order re-affirms our complete confidence in Bombardier’s CRJ regional jets,” said Jerry C. Atkin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SkyWest, Inc. “Since becoming a launch customer almost 20 years ago, SkyWest has benefited from the CRJ aircraft’s operational efficiencies and excellent economics.”

“SkyWest has played a large role in the success of the CRJ aircraft program and we are delighted with this additional order,” said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “Bombardier’s CRJ Series aircraft have become a benchmark for regional jet efficiency in the 50- to 100-seat segment and are the optimized solution for medium-haul operations.”

Including the transaction announced today, Bombardier has taken firm orders for 1,713 CRJ Series aircraft, 1,606 of which had been delivered to operators around the world as of October 31, 2010.

Source: Bombardier Press Release