MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay's flag air carrier presents Bombardier CRJ900

PLUNA new Bombardier CRJ900

Uruguay's flag air carrier PLUNA officially presented this week the first of fifteen Canadian manufactured Bombardier CRJ900 models with which the now partly privatized company intends to renew its fleet and regional business opportunities.

"Pluna is in the process of renewing its operational equipment which means that by the end of 2008 we will have the most modern fleet of aircrafts in South America", said Matias Campiani, Pluna's CEO during the ceremony held at Carrasco Airport in Montevideo. Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez, Public Works minister Victor Rossi and Canada's ambassador in Uruguay Alain Latulippe were present at the ceremony. The Uruguayan flag carrier which had a long history of over staffing, insufficient airplanes, too many "guest" travelers was first privatized in 1996 when Brazil's Varig acquired a majority of the company. However Varig, also a Brazilian government owned and managed company, with similar vices as Pluna, collapsed at the beginning of the XXI century when the Brazilian government refused to keep subsidizing the airline. Pluna returned to the Uruguayan government which set out to look for new private partners, who basically will be responsible for the management and marketing of the company. The aircrafts are financed by the Uruguayan government. The Canadian Bombardier CRJ 900 has a 90 passenger's capacity, state or the art technology and two silent turbines. "The new aircrafts will help save on fuel which will be turned into lower fares", said CEO Campiani. Bombardier aircrafts are "characterized for their technology, safety and ample space for passengers; they have been designed specially for regional flights", added Campiani. Pluna is expected to disburse 176 million US dollars for the purchase of the 15 Bombardiers, half of which will be arriving in the coming months until January 2009. The Uruguayan flag carrier currently flies to Argentina (Buenos Aires/Montevideo shuttle, one of the most profitable links in the world), Brazil, Chile and Spain. Flights to Spain are fully booked for months in advance given the large colony of last generation Uruguayans that are currently living in Spain.