MIKE MARTIN
Bombardier Regional Aircraft is showcasing its 68- to 78-seat Bombardier Q400 high-speed turboprop and 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet at Farnborough.
On the eve of the show, firm orders for Bombardier Q Series turboprops and CRJ Series regional jets totalled 1,884 aircraft. Of this total, 1,336 aircraft have been delivered and 548 are on firm backlog.
The aircraft at Farnborough are the first to market in the 70-seat turboprop and regional jet segments. The Q400 entered revenue service with launch customer SAS Commuter of Scandinavia in February 2000, while the CRJ700 began revenue service with Brit Air of France in 2001.
Upgrade
The CRJ700 featured on static display at Farnborough will be delivered to US regional operator Mesa Air following the show, and carries the livery of America West Express, for whom Mesa will operate the aircraft.
It features a two-class interior, the first in a Bombardier CRJ. It has two rows of leather-covered three-abreast business class seats with 37in (93.9cm) pitch, adjustable headrests and a 6in (15.2cm) recline. In economy class, the cabin has 58 fabric-covered seats.
The Bombardier Q400, in the colours of SAS Commuter, has 72 leather-covered seats at 32in (81.3cm) pitch. SAS Commuter provides a business class service with upgraded in-flight amenities by segmenting the cabin with a moveable partition. For meal service, this Q400 has one galley in the forward cabin and two in the rear.
The Bombardier CRJ700 and 50-seat CRJ200 will soon be joined by the new 86-seat CRJ900, enabling customers to enjoy a common family of aircraft for a more flexible fleet.
Source: Flight Daily News
