TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 31, 2014) - Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Hawaii Island Air, Inc. (Island Air) has placed a firm order for two Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners and has also taken options for four additional Q400 NextGen aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered with a dual-class, 71-seat configuration. Island Air is Hawaii's leading regional airline and second oldest carrier.
Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen airliner, the firm order is valued at approximately $60.9 million US. The value could increase to $188 million US should Island Air exercise all its options.
"As part of our ongoing restructuring and expansion strategy, the Island Air team considered a number of aircraft and we are pleased to announce the selection of the Q400 NextGen turboprop. With its superior speed, performance and fuel efficiency; outstanding operational flexibility; and market-leading passenger comfort, the Q400 NextGen aircraft is the optimal solution for our needs," said Paul Casey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Island Air.
"We are pleased to partner with Bombardier as Island Air moves to redefine regional travel within the Hawaiian Islands and offer our passengers the premium product they expect. The Q400 NextGen aircraft is clearly the most suitable airliner for Island Air and will provide a superior passenger experience coupled with unbeatable performance. My experience with Bombardier over the years has been nothing but positive which has further led to our selection of the Q400 NextGen aircraft for the next chapter of Island Air," said Island Air's owner, Larry Ellison.
"We are proud to welcome Island Air back to the Bombardier family and we are excited to see the Q400 NextGen airliner take to Hawaiian skies," said Ryan DeBrusk, Regional Vice President, Sales, Americas, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The Q400 NextGen aircraft with its superior passenger comfort and market-leading performance characteristics will serve Island Air well as it embarks on its re-fleeting strategy."
"The Q400 NextGen aircraft is designed to respond to the needs of an evolving market and our growing customer base shows that the aircraft is creating excellent value for operators and meeting a wide variety of business requirements. This operational flexibility maximizes the profit potential of the aircraft and positions it well ahead of competitive aircraft," said Ray Jones, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Asset Management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "I'm delighted that Island Air has chosen to re-join the Bombardier family and I wish the airline much success in its future ventures." Island Air currently offers flights to and from the islands of Oahu, Maui, Lanai and Kauai.
About Q400 NextGen aircraft
The Q400 NextGen aircraft, which is built at Bombardier's Toronto, Ontario facility, is the most recent development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft, an all-new design that entered service in 2000 to address the needs of the evolving market. Optimized for short-haul operations, the Q400 NextGen aircraft is large, fast, quiet and fuel efficient. It provides an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint. In its extra capacity configuration, which provides seats for up to 86 passengers, the Q400 NextGen aircraft provides up to a 17 per cent seat-cost advantage for operators.
The Q400 NextGen airliner is the fastest new-technology turboprop, providing both jet speed and turboprop fuel efficiency. The aircraft therefore delivers the best flexibility and overall operating economics in its market segment, allowing airlines to successfully deploy it in a variety of markets ranging from typical short-haul turboprop markets to longer-haul jet replacement opportunities.
Including Island Air's order, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 495 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 295 million passengers and have logged over 4.7 million flight hours and more than 5 million take-offs and landings. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft program includes over 50 customers and operators in over 30 countries on five continents.
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only 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 World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, we posted revenues of $18.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
