Emma Kelly/VALENCIA
Air Nostrum will expand its franchise operations for Spanish major Iberia when it starts to take delivery of recently ordered Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ)Series 200ERs and Dash 8 Q300s late this year. The Valencia, south-east Spain-based regional believes its future success is closely aligned with Iberia, but no equity involvement is required for the relationship to prosper, says Carlos Bertomeu, general manager and chief executive.
Last month, the airline committed to firm orders for 29 Q300 turboprops and 15 CRJ200ERs, with options on another 40 aircraft, for delivery from late 2000. Finance for the deal is still being arranged, with Bombardier saying it is working closely with Air Nostrum to secure the most favourable package.
Air Nostrum operates over 225 flights a day to 40 destinations in Spain, other European points and North Africa with 42 aircraft - 30 Fokker 50s, five ATR 72s, six CRJ-200ERs and a BAC One-Eleven.
The new CRJ200s are to be used on international routes from Madrid and Barcelona operated for Iberia. They will replace Fokker 50s on longer domestic routes, such as Bilbao-Seville, says Bertomeu, while the 50-seat Q300s will replace Fokker 50s operated by Air Nostrum and its 100%-owned Dutch regional Denim Air.
The Spanish regional has the ATR 72s on lease for five years, but their replacement with 70-seat Q400s is likely, says Bertomeu.
Air Nostrum is also interested in moving to larger CRJs. "Without any doubt we are interested in the 70-seat CRJ," he says.
Source: Flight International
