Ethiopian Airlines Seals $63m Deal With Bombardier For More Q400s
Ethiopian Airlines and Bombardier Commercial
Aircraft, have announced that they have signed a firm purchase agreement for
two additional Q400 turboprop aircraft, that will bring the carrier’s Q400
aircraft fleet to a total of 19 aircraft, the largest total fleet in Africa.
Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the transaction is valued at
approximately $63 million.
Tewolde Gebremariam, Group Chief Executive
Officer, Ethiopian Airlines, said; “We are continuously working to have the
right fleet with agility, optimal range, load and passenger comfort which is
critical for us to keep our leadership position in the market. The Q400 aircraft
continues to be an integral part of our expansion strategy in Africa. Through
our strategic partnerships with ASKY Airlines in Togo and Malawian Airlines in
Malawi, the Q400 airliner has played a vital role in availing convenient
connections, as well as increasing frequencies to support air travel growth in
Africa and successfully create a missing link.”
He added that “The Q400 aircraft is also our
core fleet to our domestic and regional destinations, thereby ensuring
excellent passenger experience, operational flexibility and economics. We
continue to work with Bombardier to support and maintain the aircraft through
our approved Q400 Authorized Service Facility and our Q400 aircraft simulator.”
Also commenting on the development, Fred
Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said: ‘the Q400 turboprop
continues to make impressive headway in Africa and has proven its ruggedness
and reliability in challenging operational environments where its hot and high
capability, jet-like speed and high rate of climb are significant assets.”
Cromer added that “Some 69 Q400 aircraft are now in service with more than 20
operators on the continent, and we are delighted with Ethiopian Airlines’
continuing growth and impressive use of the aircraft to satisfy a wide variety
of market requirements.”
On his part, John Kassis, Vice President,
Sales, Africa and the Middle East, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said: “Our
commitment to help Africa continue to expand its regional airline network with
modern, economical, fuel-efficient and environmentally sensitive aircraft
remains a very high priority at Bombardier,” adding that “Our collaboration
with operators in Africa encompasses the Dash 8/Q Series turboprops and the
pioneering CRJ Series family of regional jets. Now, we are witnessing the
unprecedented growth in Africa being undertaken by Ethiopian Airlines, ASKY and
Malawian and the Q400 turboprop airliner continues to be a key contributor to
this strategy.”
In 2013, Ethiopian Airlines joined
Bombardier’s global network of Authorized Service Facilities (ASFs) for
commercial aircraft and performs line and heavy maintenance on Q400 aircraft at
its facilities at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. The ASF works in
close collaboration with Bombardier’s maintenance network of wholly owned
service centres and ASFs, as well as with Bombardier’s network of parts hubs
and depots, including the Johannesburg Parts Depot. A full-service Bombardier
Regional Support Office is also located in Johannesburg. Ethiopian Airlines has
won Airline Reliability Performance Awards from Bombardier for five years in a
row.
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