Leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital backs CRJ1000 & Q400 NextGen value retention

As interest from growth markets spurs momentum for Bombardier’s CRJ NextGen and Q400 NextGen families of aircraft, Bombardier is gearing up for what could be a turnkey sales year in 2012 for its diversity and breadth of new customers. And lessors are proving to be key in helping to open diverse customer bases in places like Indonesia, Latin America, Asia-Pacific region and Eastern Europe.

In June, 2012, one of the world’s largest lessors of regional aircraft, Nordic Aviation Capital A/S of Billund, Denmark (NAC) purchased 12 CRJ1000 NextGen regional jets to be operated by Garuda Indonesia. Additionally, as of July 2012, NAC had completed the sale and leaseback of four Q400 NextGen airliners (from a firm order for eight) delivered to Eurolot of Poland.

NAC has also completed the sale and leaseback of 10 Q400 and four Dash 8-100 aircraft to Olympic Air’s Marfin Investment Group.

“NAC’s order is a milestone achievement for the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft program as it welcomes its first lessor to the list of buyers,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “As one of the world’s most influential lessors of regional aircraft, NAC has endorsed the value proposition of both the Q400 NextGen, with 35 of the type in its portfolio, and CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft. This illustrates that our commercial aircraft present attractive financing and leasing opportunities for airlines and investors.”

In addition to the 12 CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft ordered on its behalf by NAC, Garuda placed an order for six of the model directly with Bombardier, for a fleet total of 18 CRJ1000 NextGen airliners. Garuda also holds options on 18 CRJ1000 aircraft.

“Although it is a relatively new product, the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft is performing extremely well with its current operators, delivering exceptional reliability and the lowest seat-mile costs in its market segment,” said Martin Moller, Chairman, Nordic Aviation Capital. “We are therefore delighted to be acquiring these high-quality assets and assisting Garuda Indonesia in carrying out its business plan.”

Stating that its newly-acquired Q400 NextGen aircraft would be used to replace Eurolot’s fleet of turboprops produced by another manufacturer, Bartlomiej Matusewicz, Eurolot’s Vice-president, Operations and Technical, called the Q400 NextGen airliner “a modern, technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and comfortable turboprop with significant operational flexibility and performance capabilities.

“Bombardier’s Q400 NextGen aircraft will allow us to cover more ground and gain more market access as we begin our expansion with new regional routes,” he said.


Back to the Top