British Airways subsidiary CityFlyer Express has confirmed a $360 million order with BAE Systems for up to 12 Avro RJs and RJXs.
The decision to take a mix of the current version and the new model was exclusively revealed by Flight International earlier this month (11-17 July).
CityFlyer managing director Brad Burgess says the new RJ100s are needed later this year to cater for new routes that the airline is planning to introduce, and to upgrade some services operated by its ATR 42/72 turboprop.
"We didn't want to wait another year for the RJX, but we would have taken them if they were available," he says.
CityFlyer, based at London Gatwick, has placed firm orders for six Honeywell LF507-powered RJ100s, for delivery between November and April, bringing its fleet of the type to 16 aircraft. Its six options, for the Honeywell AS977-powered RJX100s, are due to arrive from early 2002.
Burgess says he expects to take over two Gatwick routes currently operated by BA's former French arm Air Liberté - Toulouse and Bordeaux. The airline will continue to phase out its ATRs, and will have halved the fleet from 10 aircraft to five by next summer. CityFlyer ultimately aims to operate an all-jet fleet.
Source: Flight International
