Bombardier Delivers First CRJ1000 NextGen Aircraft to Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia set to debut CRJ1000 NextGen Aircraft in Asia-Pacific Region
Bombardier Aerospace has delivered the first of six CRJ1000 NextGen regional jets ordered by PT. Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, the aircraft’s launch customer in the Asia-Pacific region. The Indonesian flag carrier also intends to operate 12 additional CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft through a third-party lease agreement and holds options on 18 more aircraft of the same type.
Garuda Indonesia was represented at the handover ceremony, held at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Québec facility, by Captain Agus Wahjudo, Executive Project Manager, Garuda Indonesia.
“The CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft has already established a reputation for superior economics, outstanding fuel economy and better passenger comfort, which position it as the right airliner for our network expansion and new service to growth markets,” said Emirsyah Satar, President and Chief Executive Officer, Garuda Indonesia. “We are pleased to add it to our fleet and to be the first carrier to introduce the aircraft to the Asia-Pacific region.”
“The Asia-Pacific region represents a key market for Bombardier. Growing hubs and cities in the region, such as in Indonesia, are expected to become gateways for opening new routes in the very near future,” said Torbjorn Karlsson, Vice President, Asia-Pacifc Sales, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We are thrilled to see the CRJ1000 NextGen airliner coming to the region and setting the pace in efficient service to growth markets centred around emerging city pairs.
“We place great value on our new relationship with Garuda and trust that it will continue growing and be long-lasting,” added Mr. Karlsson.
More than 300 Bombardier CSeries, CRJ and Q-Series commercial aircraft are on order, or are currently operating in the Asia-Pacific region. Bombardier forecasts that the Asia-Pacific region, including China, will take delivery of nearly 4,000 aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat category over the next twenty years.
Bombardier has recorded total firm orders for 1,735 CRJ Series aircraft, with 1,666 delivered as of June 30, 2012. Worldwide, CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines and have logged more than 34 million flight hours and 28 million take-off and landing cycles. In addition to airline operations, more than 30 customers operate corporate variants of CRJ Series aircraft.