Spanish airline buys 15 more Bombardier planes

Bombardier will sell another 15 planes to Spanish airline Nostrum, it was announced today.

The Canadian company’s base in Belfast netted an order worth $793m (€571m). Deliveries start in 2014.

The plant is responsible for design and manufacture of the centre fuselage and composite wing components for the CRJ1000 planes.

Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) chief executive Carlos Bertomeu said: “Air Nostrum is proud to be a launch customer for the CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet, which promises the same qualities as the CRJ200 and CRJ900 aircraft that we currently operate.

“Bombardier’s products have propelled us to our position as one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious regional airlines. We fully expect our new CRJ1000 NextGen airliners – and especially their outstanding economics – to help us continue to grow and prosper.”

Air Nostrum, from Valencia, has now purchased 35 of the planes.

More than 400 employees from operations and functional support are working on the CRJ1000 programme.

Earlier this year almost 1,000 workers were told they would be made redundant at Bombardier Belfast.

Bombardier said: “We very much welcome the order by Air Nostrum in the current difficult economic climate.

“The order will have no impact on the reduction in manpower announced earlier this year.

“However, it will help us to maintain current manpower levels, which are under constant review.”

Iberia Regional flies to more than 120 domestic and international destinations, with approximately 153,000 flights a year that carry about 5.2 million passengers.

Bombardier has recorded a total of 64 firm orders for the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft.