United Express carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) has reconfirmed its firm order for 121 Bombardier CRJ200s, but rescheduled the 42 regional jets still to be delivered. The Dulles, Virginia-based carrier is deep in regional service negotiations with troubled United Airlines.
ACA, which stopped accepting CRJs in March, has agreed to take delivery of 10 aircraft in Bombardier's 2003-4 fiscal year, which ends on 31 January. Two have been delivered, says Bombardier chief executive Paul Tellier. ACA will take nine aircraft in FY2004-5 and the other 25 in FY2005-6. The original schedule called for 35 deliveries in FY2003-4 and nine in FY2004-5.
The reduction will be partially offset by the handover of the first 10 of 60 CRJs on firm order for US Airways. Bombardier plans to deliver around 220 regional aircraft in FY2003-4, roughly the same as last year, Tellier says.
He says financing for some of the 10 aircraft to be delivered to ACA this year will be provided by Canada's Export Development Corporation (EDC), and "some by ACA". The two delivered have been financed by EDC.
Source: Flight International
