Aviation News
Bombardier delivers Delta Connection's first CRJ700Montréal, January 30, 2002
Bombardier Aerospace celebrated an important milestone yesterday when Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) took delivery of its first 70-passenger Bombardier CRJ700.
Fred Buttrell, president and CEO of Delta Connection, Inc., and W. E. "Skip" Barnette, president of Atlantic Southeast Airlines, officially accepted the aircraft during a ceremony at Bombardier's new CRJ700/CRJ900 assembly facility at Mirabel International Airport.
The airline also took delivery of Bombardier CRJ200 serial number 600. The Bombardier CRJ200 is Delta Connection's 165th CRJ100/200 Series aircraft for its wholly owned subsidiaries ASA and Comair. The Bombardier CRJ700 received is the first of 57 scheduled for delivery to ASA and Comair.
Delta Connection, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), manages the operations of ASA and Comair, and additional Delta Connection contract carriers SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Coast Airlines. The Delta Connection fleet now includes a total of 206 Bombardier jet aircraft.
Delta announced the largest regional aircraft order in history - 94 firm Bombardier CRJ200 and Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft plus 406 options - on March 29, 2000.
"The full family of 40-, 50- and 70-seat Bombardier CRJ aircraft offers Delta Connection customers superior service in markets of many sizes," said Mr. Buttrell. "We welcome this new queen of our fleet, which can better serve markets that need more than 50-seat aircraft, but don't require the capacity of a Delta MD-88. The Bombardier CRJ700 offers noticeably more interior space for passengers and luggage, and it features our newly designed, more comfortable leather seating."
"We look forward with great anticipation to having the Bombardier CRJ700 in our fleet," said Mr. Barnette. "The Bombardier CRJ200 has been a tremendous asset, and we cannot overstate its value to our system and to our customer service. Our customers and our employees love this airplane and we fully expect that the larger 70-seat aircraft will be of equal value as we continue to grow our airline and the Delta Connection network. Passengers will continue to enjoy the comfort and convenience of Bombardier's CRJs, and the frequency of service only regional jets can provide to small- and medium-sized communities."
"Delta Connection carrier Comair launched North American CRJ service with its first two aircraft in June 1993, when the jury was still out on the economic viability of a regional jet," said Steven A. Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "Now, thanks to the foresight of Delta and its strong support for the entrepreneurial spirit of its Delta Connection carriers - ASA, Comair, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Coast Airlines - Delta Connection is the largest Bombardier CRJ fleet operator with more than 200 aircraft, flying more than 1,750 daily flights to more than 158 airports. We are tremendously proud and respectful of our long and successful association with Delta Connection."
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative aviation products and services for the regional, business and amphibious aircraft markets. It also offers Bombardier Flexjet® fractional ownership, aircraft charter and management, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training for business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company, is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset management. The corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific and its revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion Cdn.
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