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Bombardier and Chorus Sign Firm Purchase Agreement for up to 10 CRJ900 Aircraft

- Five firm-ordered aircraft will be operated by Jazz Aviation under the Air Canada Express banner

- Jazz Aviation will also reconfigure 37 in-service CRJ705 and Q400 aircraft to increase seat capacity


/EINPresswire.com/ -- MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/26/16 -- Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Inc. ("Chorus") has signed a firm purchase agreement for five CRJ900 aircraft. The order also includes purchase rights for an additional five CRJ900 aircraft. Once delivered, the five firm-ordered aircraft will be operated by Jazz Aviation LP ("Jazz"), also a subsidiary of Chorus, under the Air Canada Express banner.

Based on the list price of the CRJ900 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $229 million US and could increase to $467 million US, should Chorus exercise all its purchase rights.

"The addition of these new CRJ900 aircraft will continue Jazz's fleet renewal and growth program that began in 2011, and provide unit operating costs that are amongst the lowest of any regional aircraft," said Joseph Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chorus. "These efficient aircraft are an important component of our cost reduction plans and will be an outstanding complement to our exclusive fleet of Bombardier turboprops and regional jets."

"Ensuring passenger comfort while maintaining cost efficiencies is a top priority for us, and the CRJ900 aircraft allows us to achieve both," said Colin Copp, President, Jazz. "To support Air Canada's new fleet standard, the new 76-seat aircraft will be configured with three classes -- business, preferred economy and economy."

"We are delighted that Chorus and Jazz continue to put their confidence in Bombardier and its products -- providing passengers with outstanding service from coast to coast in Canada and the United States," said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The CRJ900 aircraft is ideally suited to growing markets and is recognized for its superior performance, economics and passenger comfort."

Additionally, with Bombardier's assistance, Jazz will reconfigure its current 16 CRJ705 aircraft into CRJ900 aircraft with 76 seats. Jazz will also reconfigure 21 Q400 turboprops currently in its fleet with an additional four seats to increase each aircraft's passenger capacity to 78. All 37 aircraft are operated under the Air Canada Express banner.

About CRJ Series Aircraft

Every 10 seconds a CRJ Series regional jet takes off somewhere in the world. The CRJ Series family of aircraft has transported more than 1.64 billion passengers to become the world's most successful regional jet program -- linking people and communities like no other. The CRJ Series regional jets have revolutionized aviation with their proven efficiency, reliability and profitability.

The CRJ Series regional jets share commonality benefits that provide flexibility to operators and allow them to optimize their fleets to meet specific market demands. No other regional aircraft deliver this capability. Optimized for medium-haul regional routes, these aircraft can provide up to 10 per cent cash operating cost advantage over competing jets.

Each of the CRJ aircraft models offers its own distinct advantages. The CRJ200 regional jet offers outstanding ownership cost, ideal for opening new routes and markets. The CRJ700 regional jet is the lightest aircraft in its category, delivering impressive efficiency, performance and fuel burn savings, while the CRJ900 regional jet offers tremendous flexibility and is ideally suited for growing markets. The CRJ1000 regional jet, which has the highest passenger capacity in the family, delivers the lowest seat-mile cost in the regional jet market and burns up to 13 per cent less fuel than its competitors.

Since its launch, the CRJ Series family of regional jets has stimulated the regional jet market. In North America alone, it accounts for over 20 per cent of all jet departures. Globally, the family operates more than 200,000 flights per month.

The CRJ Series aircraft family includes over 100 owners and operators in approximately 40 countries. The worldwide fleet has logged over 43.5 million flight hours.

Including this order, Bombardier has booked a total of 1,892 firm orders for CRJ Series aircraft, including 420 CRJ900 aircraft.

About Chorus

Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chorus was incorporated on September 27, 2010 and is a dividend-paying holding company with various interests including Jazz Aviation Holdings Inc. and Chorus Aviation Holdings II Inc.

Chorus is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols of CHR.A and CHR.B

For more information, visit www.chorusaviation.ca

About Jazz Aviation LP

Jazz Aviation LP has a strong history in Canadian aviation with its roots going back to the 1930s. Jazz is owned by Chorus Aviation Inc. and continues to generate some of the strongest operational and financial results in the North American aviation industry. As the largest regional airline in Canada, Jazz has a proven track record of industry leadership and exceptional customer service, and has leveraged that strength to deliver value to all its stakeholders. Jazz operates more flights and flies to more Canadian destinations than any other airline, and currently has a workforce of approximately 4,200 professionals highly experienced in the challenging and complex nature of regional operations.

Under a capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada, using the Air Canada Express brand, Jazz provides service to and from lower-density markets as well as higher-density markets at off-peak times throughout Canada and to and from certain destinations in the United States. In April 2016, Jazz is operating scheduled passenger service on behalf of Air Canada with approximately 600 departures per weekday to 55 destinations in Canada and to 11 destinations in the United States. With a fleet of 114 Canadian-made Bombardier aircraft, Jazz flies more daily flights to more Canadian destinations than any other airline.

Under the Jazz brand, the airline offers charters throughout North America with a dedicated fleet of five Bombardier aircraft for corporate clients, governments, special interest groups and individuals seeking more convenience. Jazz also has the ability to offer airline operators services such as ground handling, dispatching, flight load planning, training and consulting.

For more information, visit www.flyjazz.ca.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world's leading manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, we posted revenues of $18.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Notes to editors

Images of CRJ900 and Q400 aircraft in Air Canada Express' livery are posted with this press release at www.bombardier.com

For more information on the CRJ Series and Q400 aircraft, visit http://news.commercialaircraft.bombardier.com

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Bombardier, CRJ705, CRJ900, CRJ Series, Q400, Q Series and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

Contacts:
Marianella de la Barrera
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
+1-416-375-3030
marianella.delabarrera@aero.bombardier.com
www.bombardier.com