Interest and momentum for Bombardier Aerospace’s technologically advanced Q400 NextGen airliner keeps building as the aircraft kicked off the fourth leg of its world tour last week in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Following successful demonstration flights and static displays in Tblisi, Georgia and Saratov, Russia, the Q400 NextGen airliner – painted in its special “Get More” livery – is on its way to other regions of Russia including Kazan, Tyumen, Yekaterinburg, Sakhalin, Yakutsk and Magadan.
“With the ongoing renewal of the Russian Federation’s civilian aviation industry, there is a great opportunity to showcase the Q400 NextGen aircraft and we are pleased that potential Russian and CIS-based customers are pursuing fleet replacement and growth initiatives with our Q400 aircraft in mind,” said Steven Aliment, Vice President, Sales, Europe, Russia and the CIS. “The Q400 NextGen aircraft’s fuel efficiency, operational flexibility, low operating cost, reduced environmental impact and passenger-pleasing interior make it an outstanding solution for local airlines and leasing companies looking at growing hubs and connections between major regional and industrial cities as well as tourist destinations.”
Russian carriers have been utilizing regional jet and turboprop aircraft produced by Bombardier to access secondary or tertiary markets since 2003 when the Dash 8 aircraft became the first western-built regional aircraft to obtain Russian certification and registration. Final certification for the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ100/200 aircraft was obtained in 2006. Since then, there has been a significant increase in the number of Dash 8/Q-Series and CRJ100/200 aircraft operated by Russian and CIS airlines located in Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan.
Starting from a base of approximately 800 commercial aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat category that are currently operating in the region, Bombardier’s 20-year commercial aviation market forecast projects deliveries of 460 units in this market segment to Russia and the CIS through to 2030. More than 50 per cent of the deliveries are expected to be in the 100- to 149-seat segment, while most of the remainder will be mainly in the 60- to 99-seat segment, according to the forecast. Currently, more than 80 Bombardier Dash 8/Q-Series turboprops and CRJ regional jets are in service in Russia and the CIS.
“Russia presents a key market for diversifying the use of Q400 and other Dash 8/Q-Series turboprops, as well CRJ regional jets. There is a high potential for non-airline market applications such as cargo, corporate shuttle and business aircraft conversions,” said Sergey Ermolaev, Bombardier’s Chief Country Representative, Russia and CIS. “For this reason, we are pleased to welcome for the first time, the Q400 NextGen aircraft to Russia and the CIS. Expanding into this region is a key initiative for Bombardier as it aims to establish a long term partnership with the Russian aviation industry as it explores opportunities in a wide scope of marketing, joint engineering, manufacturing and servicing activities.
Bombardier has booked firm orders for 428 Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners. The delivered aircraft are in service with approximately 40 operators in 30 countries, on six continents. These aircraft have transported more than 177 million passengers and have logged more than 3.2 million flight hours and over 3.5 million take-offs and landings.
Source and photo: Bombardier
