MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Pluna places order for three extra Bombardier CRJ900 totalling a fleet of ten

The CRJ900 with Pluna’s colours in Carrasco Airport, Montevideo

Canada’s Bombardier Aerospace announced Thursday that Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas S.A. has signed a follow-on firm order for three CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and has taken options on an additional six CRJ900 NextGen aircraft.

The Uruguayan Montevideo based airline fleet already includes seven delivered aircraft from their original order of CRJ900 NextGen jetliners announced on July 9, 2007.

Based on the list price for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, the value of the latest firm order is approximately 120 million US dollars. The contract value could increase to approximately 370 million USD should all six options be exercised.

Pluna, which was founded in 1936, is the flag carrier of Uruguay and serves destinations in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay.

“Bombardier's CRJ900 NextGen airliner has given us the ability to upgrade our passenger service and develop new markets,” said Matias Campiani, Chief Executive Officer at Pluna.

“It has allowed us to offer more frequent service with its low operating economics, exceptional passenger comfort and proven high reliability. Our three new aircraft will enable us to continue expanding our route network.”

“Pluna's confidence in our CRJ900 NextGen aircraft is reflected in this additional order which grows Bombardier's presence in South America,” said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We look forward to continuing to meet and exceed Pluna's needs in the region with our world-class CRJ regional jets.”

As of January 31, 2010, Bombardier had recorded firm orders for 248 CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft and delivered 230. A total of 1,695 CRJ Series aircraft had been ordered with 1,587 delivered.

Bombardier is a world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services.

The global corporation headquartered in Canada had revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2010 of 19.4 billion USD. Its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes.