Delta Airlines orders up to 70 Bombardier Aerospace CRJ900s ©

Image: Bombardier Aerospace 

Bombardier Aerospace today announced Delta Airlines ordered 40 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets plus a further 30 options, configured with 76 seats in a two-class cabin and will be operated by Delta Connection carriers still be determined by Delta Airlines, in a contract valued at $1.85 billion at list prices increasing to $3.29 billion if all options are converted to firm orders.

The CRJ900 NextGen regional jets will allow the airline to continue restructuring its domestic fleet by phasing out its 60 CRJ200 aircraft.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Mike Arcamone said "Building on a relationship that is 20 years strong, we are delighted that Delta – one of the world’s largest, most prestigious global airlines – continues to select Bombardier CRJ regional jets to replenish its fleet".

In a statement Bombardier Belfast Management said "We in Belfast will once again benefit, given the significant role we play in the CRJ900 NextGen programme, this order is a further vote of confidence by customers in Bombardier's products, and in the skills and capabilities of our workforce here in Belfast ".

Delta Airlines President Ed Ed Bastian said "We selected Bombardier’s CRJ900 NextGen aircraft specifically because it is proven to be the most cost-efficient jet aircraft in its class for our operations and this regional jet satisfies perfectly the agreement that we have made with our pilots to add 70 more 76-seat jetliners to our fleet"

Delta Connection carriers have been operating Bombardier Aerospace CRJ aircraft since 1993 when Comair became the first North American airline to operate the CRJ100, today Delta Connection carriers operate 466 CRJ Series aircraft − 286 CRJ200, 79 CRJ700 and 101 CRJ900 jetliners − making it the world’s largest CRJ aircraft fleet.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 6th December 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Aviation growth incentives unveiled in Budget 2013 ©

Image: EI-AMD Photos

The Minister for Finance Mr Michael Noonan TD yesterday announced new aviation growth incentives in Budget 2013 to develop and build upon existing aircraft leasing and maintenance clusters, creating the potential for significant job creation, by putting in place measures to facilitate the construction of hangers and ancillary facilities to make it more attractive for companies to locate here in Ireland.

The Minister said a joint departmental team will examine the feasibility of new funding sources for airlines and aircraft financing and leasing companies.

A very welcome development is to make the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) concept being developed for the Shannon Airport entity, available to all other airports in the state who wish also to avail of these measures, also the 9% VAT rate in the tourism will remain.

Further details are expected in the Finance Bill next week.

The aviation sector contributes €4.1 billion (2.6%) to Irish GDP with 26,000 direct employees in airlines, airports, leasing companies and MROs (Source Aer Lingus).

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 6th December 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Irish Airlines grow November passenger numbers ©

                                                   
Aer Lingus announced it carried 766,000 passengers up 2.1% carrying 87,000 long-haul passengers up 13% with a load factor of 85.7% up 8.4% on an 1.3% increase in capacity its revenue passengers kilometers increased by 12.4%, and carried 593,000 short-haul passengers down 2.2% with a load factor of 70.5% down 3.1% on an 2.7% reduction in capacity with revenue passenger kilometers down 6.8%.

Aer Lingus Regional Franchise operated by Aer Arann Regional carried 86,000 passengers up 28.4% and year to date has carried 927,000 passengers.

Compared to the Association of European Airlines (mainly so-called legacy carriers) as a whole, the Aer Lingus passenger load factor was the same on short-haul routes (70.5% v.70.7%) and a bit higher on the North Atlantic routes (85.7% v. 83.6%) which is a good development.

                                       

Ryanair announced it carried 4.91 million passengers up 5% with a load factor of 80% and in the rolling 12 months to the end of November it carried 79.6 million passengers.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 6th December 2012 All Rights Reserved.