Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Nok Air of Bangkok, Thailand announced today the delivery of the carrier's first Q400 NextGen turboprop at Bombardier's facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where the aircraft is manufactured. The milestone aircraft, the first Q400 NextGen airliner to be delivered in the new extra capacity seating configuration, is part of Nok Air's purchase agreement for up to eight Q400 NextGen airliners that was announced on November 19, 2013. Following the exercise of options and purchase rights, Nok Air has firm orders for six Q400 NextGen aircraft and retains two purchase rights from the original contract.
The extra capacity Q400 NextGen aircraft, the only commercial turboprop available today to offer 86 seats, provides an overall operating seat cost advantage of up to 17 per cent compared to its closest turboprop competitor.
"We are very excited to not only be the first to operate the Q400 NextGen turboprop in Thailand, but also the launch operator for the extra capacity seating configuration," said Patee Sarasin, Chief Executive Officer, Nok Air. "We always aim to lead through continuous innovation to offer our passengers an unsurpassed experience, and our new Q400 NextGen aircraft will enable us to serve more passengers comfortably and conveniently, as well as expand to new destinations profitably."
"With the lowest seat-mile costs in the short-haul regional market and unmatched operational flexibility, the Q400 NextGen turboprop is the ideal complement to Nok Air's growth strategy," said Frank Baistrocchi, Regional Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "We are confident that Nok Air will successfully showcase the flexibility and adaptability of the extra capacity Q400 NextGen aircraft as it makes point-to-point regional air service more accessible to an increased number of travelers in the region."
"The technologically advanced Q400 NextGen turboprop and its all-new extra capacity configuration will increase the carrier's competiveness in a bullish local market; we are very pleased to welcome Nok Air to the family," added Ray Jones, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Asset Management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.
About Q400 NextGen aircraft
Optimized for short-haul operations and capable of seating up to 86 passengers, the Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint.
The Q400 NextGen aircraft is the fastest new-technology turboprop, providing both jet speed and turboprop fuel efficiency. The aircraft's economics and operational flexibility allow airlines to profitably deploy it in a variety of ways to serve typical short-haul turboprop routes, as well as medium-haul jet markets.
Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 511 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 295 million passengers and have logged over 4.7 million flight hours and more than 5 million take-offs and landings. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft program includes over 50 customers and operators in approximately 40 countries on five continents.
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 Montreal, 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.