BEIJING, CHINA--(Marketwired - Nov 8, 2014) - Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that China's sole specialized regional airline, China Express Airlines (China Express), is the previously announced unidentified customer that had placed a firm order for 16 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and had taken options for eight additional airliners of the same type. This purchase agreement was initially announced on June 30, 2014.

The announcement was made today in Beijing, in the presence of His Excellency Li Keqiang, Premier, People's Republic of China; The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Hu Xiaojun, Chairman, China Express; Wu Longjiang, President, China Express; Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc.; and Jianwei Zhang, President, Bombardier China.

As previously announced by Bombardier, based on the list price for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $727 million USD. The value could increase to $1.12 billion USD should China Express exercise its options.

"Only eight years after first starting operations, China Express provides regional passenger services to nearly 50 cities throughout China with its all-Bombardier fleet of four CRJ200 aircraft and eleven 84-seat CRJ900 NextGen aircraft," said Mr. Wu. "With its excellent reliability and economics, the CRJ900 NextGen airliner continues to be central to our development. We look forward to taking delivery of these additional aircraft and connecting more tier-two and tier-three cities, and more people, together."

"When Bombardier launched the CRJ regional jet in 1989, it gave birth to the regional jet market and revolutionized aviation in both the United States and Europe. The CRJ family of aircraft then went to become the best-selling regional aircraft program in history," declared Mr. Beaudoin. "We are honored to be able to participate in a similar manner in the development of China's regional air travel, thanks to China Express' bold vision and expansion strategy."

"China Express' rapid growth and success in the regional market have been nothing short of spectacular, and we could not be prouder to be associated with such an innovative and pioneering airline," added Andy Solem, Vice President, Sales, China and Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has been making great strides in establishing its presence in China - steadily growing its local roots, expanding its customer and industrial base, and leveraging the company's track-record of success in the country."

About CRJ900 NextGen aircraft

Bombardier revolutionized regional aviation with its CRJ Series aircraft which continuously move the world forward. As the world's most successful family of regional aircraft, a CRJ regional jet departs every 10 seconds linking people and communities together. Optimized for medium-haul regional routes, CRJ NextGen aircraft deliver best-in-class economics and set the benchmark for lowest fuel burn and operating costs; they also offer proven reliability, fleet commonality and enhanced passenger comfort.

The CRJ NextGen regional jets are designed for hub expansion and point-to-point services, enabling operators to create and develop new markets and increase frequencies for decades to come.

The CRJ900 NextGen aircraft can seat up to 90 passengers or be configured with 76 seats in a typical North American layout featuring extra legroom and comfort. The CRJ900 NextGen aircraft is now delivering up to 5.5 per cent lower fuel burn compared to earlier-generation CRJ900 aircraft.

As of September 30, 2014, Bombardier had recorded firm orders for 1,833 CRJ Series aircraft, including 359 CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines and more than 30 customers operate corporate variants of the aircraft in over 50 countries on six continents. CRJ Series aircraft have transported more than 1.4 billion passengers and have logged more than 38 million flight hours and over 32 million takeoffs and landings.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, we posted revenues of $18.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Notes to editors

Images of CRJ900 NextGen aircraft in China Express' livery are posted with this release at bombardier.com.

Additional information on the CRJ aircraft is available at http://www.commercialaircraft.bombardier.com/en/home.html.

Follow @Bombardier_Aero on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier Aerospace.

Bombardier, CRJ, CRJ200, CRJ900, NextGen and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.