News
Leasing firm Nordic Aviation puts faith in Bombardier
July 9, 2012, Toronto - As interest from growth markets spurs momentum for Bombardier's CRJ NextGen and Q400 NextGen families of aircraft, the company is gearing up for what could be a very successful sales year in 2012 with a diverse group of new customers.
July 9, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
Lessors are proving to be key factors in helping to open a broad base of airline operators in places like the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, Indonesia and Eastern Europe.
In June 2012, one of the world's largest lessors of regional aircraft, Nordic Aviation Capital A/S (NAC) of Billund, Denmark purchased 12 CRJ1000 NextGen regional aircraft to be operated by Garuda Indonesia. Additionally, as of July 2012, NAC had completed the sale and leaseback of four Q400 NextGen airliners (from a firm order for eight) delivered to Eurolot of Poland.
"NAC's order is a milestone achievement for the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft program as it welcomes its first lessor to the list of buyers," said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "As one of the world's most influential lessors of regional aircraft, NAC has endorsed the value retention of both the Q400 NextGen and CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft. This support demonstrates that leasing companies recognize the outstanding in-service performance and reliability of the CRJ1000 NextGen and Q400 NextGen aircraft and shows that they present attractive financing and leasing opportunities for airlines and investors worldwide."
NAC also recently completed the sale and leaseback of 10 Q400 and four Dash 8-100 aircraft to Olympic Air's Marfin Investment Group, further expanding the airline's fleet of Bombardier commercial aircraft. In its fiscal year 2011, NAC owned a fleet of 33 Dash-8and Q400 turboprops and four CRJ regional jets.
In addition to the 12 CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft ordered on its behalf by NAC, Garuda placed an order for six of the models directly with Bombardier, for a fleet total of 18 CRJ1000 NextGen airliners. Garuda, the launch customer for the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region, also holds options on an additional 18 of the aircraft.
"Although it is a relatively new product, the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft is performing extremely well with its current operators, delivering exceptional reliability and the lowest seat-mile costs in its market segment," said Martin Moller, Chairman, Nordic Aviation Capital. "We are therefore delighted to be acquiring these high-quality assets and assisting Garuda Indonesia in carrying out its business plan."
Stating that its newly-acquired Q400 NextGen aircraft would be used for Eurolot's fleet renewal and replacement program, Bartlomiej Matusewicz, Eurolot's Vice-president, Operations and Technical, called the Q400 NextGen airliner "a modern, technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and comfortable turboprop with significant operational flexibility and performance capabilities".
"Bombardier's Q400 NextGen aircraft will allow us to cover more ground and gain more market access as we begin our expansion with new regional routes," he said.
