Bombardier Aerospace has delivered the first of two CRJ900 NextGen regional jets ordered by RwandAir of Kigali, Rwanda. RwandAir’s firm order for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, along with options for two additional CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, was announced on March 19, 2012.

The aircraft was handed over to RwandAir during a ceremony at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Québec facility where the CRJ Series aircraft are manufactured. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Edda Mukabagwiza, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Canada; John Mirenge, Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir, along with other representatives from the airline; officials from the government of Rwanda; Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and several Bombardier executives and staff.

“We are very proud to introduce the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to East Africa,” said Mr. Mirenge. “Our 50-seat CRJ200 aircraft has helped expand our markets to the point where larger capacity aircraft are required to meet passenger demand. The CRJ900 NextGen jetliner is a natural progression from the CRJ200 aircraft that has served us so well. In addition, the larger aircraft have a two-class, 75-seat interior that will allow us to offer a premium service.”

“RwandAir is a perfect example of a customer that successfully integrates pre-owned CRJ200 aircraft, establishes a base and grows to become a customer of new aircraft. The CRJ900 NextGen aircraft is the ideal size to allow RwandAir to connect its regional and international markets as it looks to expand its fleet and services with modern, fuel-efficient CRJ aircraft,” said Mr. Arcamone.

“We at Bombardier are very impressed by RwandAir’s steady growth since it began operations in 2002. Today, it is a dynamic airline and the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft will offer it even more operational flexibility,” added Mr. Arcamone.

There are currently more than 200 Bombardier regional jets and turboprop aircraft in service with, or on firm order from, approximately 50 operators in the Middle East and Africa. Bombardier projects that over the next 20 years, the fleet of Bombardier commercial aircraft in the Middle East and Africa will continue to grow, forecasting deliveries of 970 aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat market segments during that period.

Source and photo: Bombardier