Q400 confirmation
FlyBE. places record US$818 million contract
for Bombardier Q400 aircraft
FlyBE. today signed a record order with Bombardier Aerospace of Canada,
worth $818 million. The contract specifies 17 firm orders and 20 options
for delivery from June 2003 to June 2006. The 20 options can be exercised
until 2008. This contract is the largest aircraft deal worldwide so far
this year.
This important strategic decision by FlyBE., sets the course for its
long-term fleet replacement and enables it to reinforce its position as the
UK's number one regional low fares airline. The new Q400s, which join an
existing four in the fleet, will replace seven smaller Dash 8s and four
Bombardier Regional Jets. These aircraft will leave the fleet
simultaneously with the arrival of the new aircraft.
Four Q400s will be accepted in 2003 with the first arriving in June. Eight
Q400s will follow in 2004; two in 2005 and three in 2006. It is planned
that three of the new aircraft will be based at Southampton, FlyBE.'s newest
hub, providing the possibility of route expansion or increase of capacity on
existing routes.
The Q400, which combines high-speed performance and low operating costs on a
par with the Boeing 737, will enable FlyBE. to compete effectively in the
regional low fares sector. Over the past 12 months, the airline has
successfully repositioned itself as the leading low fare regional airline,
serving 17 regional airports throughout the UK and from this summer, 20
international destinations.
FlyBE. will operate flights to 12 destinations from Southampton this
summer - Belfast City, Dublin, Jersey, Guernsey, Geneva, Milan Bergamo,
Murcia, Malaga, Toulouse, Alicante, Ibiza and Bergerac.
"The Q400 is delivering fantastically low operating costs at FlyBE., a
benefit which we are passing directly on to our passengers with low fares as
we expand our European network," said Jim French, managing director of
FlyBE. "We announced last year our intention to streamline our fleet to two
aircraft types. With the announcement today to standardize on the Q400, we
are well on track as we rebalance our network with a complementary mix of
business and leisure routes."
Mr. French added, "The jet performance of the Q400 is a major selling point,
together with its exceptionally quiet and comfortable cabin. Passenger
reaction has been extremely positive."
FlyBE. introduced the Q400 in December 2001 on its flights from Birmingham
to Scotland. The aircraft combines exceptional cabin comfort with the speed
and technology of a jet, but at turboprop costs. The Q400s are the world's
most environmentally friendly aircraft, in addition to reduced fuel burn
they have the lowest noise foot print of any comparable passenger airliner,
with noise levels at a fraction of those generated by comparable Boeing
aircraft.
The Q400 also boasts an extremely quiet and low vibration cabin environment
thanks to its superb Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system. In
addition, the Q400 gives FlyBE. an edge with its special operating
characteristics, enabling the airline to utilise the aircraft on shorter
runways such as London City and Belfast City Airports, without any payload
restrictions.
FlyBE., will carry more than 3.5 million passengers on its network this year
with its BAe 146 and Bombardier fleet. The airline has a workforce of
1,000, plus 500 at sister organization British European Aviation Services,
based in Exeter. FlyBE.'s principal operating bases are at Southampton,
Birmingham, Belfast and the Channel Islands. FlyBE. has a 25-year history,
from a small commuter airline providing scheduled services between mainland
UK and the Channel Islands in the mid 1980s, to Europe's largest independent
regional airline.