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Bombardier-Air Côte d’Ivoire deal

Bombardier Aerospace and Abidjan-based airline Air Côte d’Ivoire have signed a conditional purchase agreement for two Q400 NextGen aircraft with options for an additional two on the second day of the Dubai Airshow.

By Abdul Basit

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Published: Tue 19 Nov 2013, 10:38 PM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 4:21 AM

Rene Decurey and Mike Arcamone with Raphael Haddad, vice-president for Africa and Middle East Sales Commercial Aircraft Aerospace; General Coulibaly Abdoulaye; and Sameer Adam, Bombadier sales director for Africa Sales Commercial Aircraft Aerospace at the signing ceremony on Monday.

Based on list prices, the contract value for two firm-ordered Q400 NextGen aircraft would be approximately $69 million. Should the two options be converted to firm orders, the contract value would increase to $141 million. Air Côte d’Ivoire is the national airline of Ivory Coast.

“The dual-class-configured Q400 NextGen aircraft is ideally suited for our market; it will support passengers’ requirements and integrate well into our fleet,” said Rene Decurey, chief executive officer of Air Côte d’Ivoire.

“We will capitalise on the Q400 NextGen aircraft’s outstanding performance including its high speed and long-range cruise capability as we look to modernise our fleet and expand our domestic and regional route network. Additionally, in West Africa, where average fuel prices are among the highest in the world and the highest on the continent, the fast, fuel-efficient Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner is the most cost effective and flexible regional aircraft solution for our operations.”

As of September 30, Bombardier had booked 476 firm orders for the Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprops.

Mike Arcamone, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said: “We are proud that Bombardier is contributing to the growth strategy of Air Côte d’Ivoire, and that the carrier could potentially double the size of its current fleet with Q400 NextGen aircraft as it further develops its network of short- and medium-haul destinations.”

“The Q400 NextGen aircraft is performing superbly in diverse environments around the world with some 50 customers and operators, and we are delighted to welcome Air Côte d’Ivoire to our family. “Bombardier Commercial Aircraft continues to perform well in Africa, where we have captured 100 per cent market share over more than two years in the large turboprop segment,” Arcamone added. Bombardier regional aircraft have made significant advances in Africa to the point where Dash 8/Q-Series turboprops and CRJ regional jets comprise 50 per cent share of the fleet of 37- to 120-seat aircraft on the continent, with approximately160 aircraft in service, or on order, by more than 50 operators.

Bombardier Aerospace has brought a broad line-up of its industry-leading products to the biennial Dubai Airshow. Demonstrating Bombardier’s growing importance in the Middle East’s aviation sector, the company is showcasing a diversified portfolio of its business and commercial aircraft, its technical expertise and its superior customer support and aircraft maintenance services. Bombardier’s static display is featuring three aircraft including the wide-body Challenger 605 jet, the large Global 6000, and the Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner.

— abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com