Bombardier CRJ (Canadair Regional Jet) commercial regional jet family was introduced in 1992 with the entry into service of the first CRJ100 aircraft. The twin-engine, single aisle airplane family has been improved all since its inception. Following the success of the CRJ100, Bombardier introduced the CRJ200 with improved engines in 1996, the CRJ700 in 2001 and the newest CRJ900 in 2003. Every model has a high degree of commonality with the rest of the aircraft family lowering spare parts, ground support equipment, maintenance programs and aircrew training costs. The latest addition to this successful family, is an enhanced CRJ900 announced in March 2005 which incorporates structural, aerodynamic and system changes for improved airfield performance.
The CRJ700 aircraft was introduced in 2001. CRJ700s are powered by two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines which are more powerful than the CF34-3s on the CRJ200 and, by the way, greater fuel efficiencies. Its seating capacity has been increased compared with the CRJ100/200 by 25 more seats reaching 75-seat. The CRJ700 cruises at Mach 0.825 and has a maximum range of up to 2,000 nautical miles (nm). All variants come with a state-of-the-art glass cockpit very similar to those provided to CRJ100/200.
Bombardier claims this aircraft is to serve the same markets of the CRJ200 but adding more seating capacity and range therefore competing with more expensive narrow-body jetliners. As of August 2005, Bombardier was marketing two models varying in size in a two-class layout cabin: the CRJ700 Series 701 for 64- to 70-seat, and the CRJ700 Series 705 for 75-seat. Each CRJ700 Series has two additional variants providing Extended Range (ER) and Long Range (LR). The production engine for new build CRJ700s is the CF34-8C5B1 so far.
In February 1997, French carrier Brit Air became the launch customer for the CRJ700. In June 1997, American Eagle placed an order for 25 CRJ700s plus options on another 25 aircraft. All in were valued at $1.4 billion. In May 1998, Brit Air placed an order for six CRJ100 and two CRJ700 airplanes. In September 1998, Atlantic Southeast Airlines placed an order for 12 CRJ700 airplanes scheduled for delivery from 2001 through 2003. On 17 September 1998, Lufthansa placed an order for 10 CRJ700 plus another 10 as option. The German carrier also ordered 10 50-passenger CRJs, the firm order aircraft were valued at $475 million.
In October 1998, COMAIR signed an agreement with Bombardier for the purchase of 30 CRJ100 and 20 CRJ700 together valued at $1 billion. The agreement also included options for 30 CRJ100 and 70 CRJ700 aircraft options. COMAIR was scheduled to take delivery of the CRJ100 beginning in 1999 and the CRJ700 in 2001. In December 1998, Horizon Air placed an order with Bombardier for 25 CRJ700s valued at $580 million with deliveries beginning in 2002.
In June 2000, GECAS placed an order for 15 CRJ200s, 25 CRJ700s and 10 CRJ900s valued at $1.3 billion including options for 100 additional aircraft which will increase the final purchase order value to $3.9 billion. The 50 firm order aircraft were scheduled for delivery between 2002 and 2006. In September 2000, Lufthansa CityLine placed an order for 10 CRJ700s. In February 2001, Cameroon Airlines ordered two CRJ, one CRJ200 and one CRJ700, to be delivered between 2001 and 2002.
In June 2001, Deutsche Structured Finance (DSF) ordered 30 CRJ700s and 20 CRJ900s plus 30 aircraft options. The 50 firm order aircraft were valued at $1.5 billion. In September 2002, Chinese carrier Shandong Airlines signed a purchase agreement for two CRJ700s. In May 2003, US Airways ordered up to 275 CRJ200/700s. The US carrier would take delivery of 60 CRJ200s and 25 CRJ700s, 90 reconfigurable orders and 100 aircraft options. The firm order aircraft were valued at $2.2 billion with the total estimated value of the contract with all options exercised reaching $7 billion. Deliveries were expected to commence in 2003 lasting until 2005.
In September 2004, Air Canada Jazz signed an order for 15 CRJ200, 15 CRJ700 and 15 conditional orders plus 45 options. CRJ200s will be delivered beginning in 2004 and CRJ700s in 2005. The firm order aircraft were valued at $821 million. In November 2004, Styrian Spirit placed an order for one CRJ700 valued at $30 million. In March 2005, GoJet Airlines placed a firm order for 10 CRJ700s plus further 40 on option. The firm order aircraft were valued at $317 million and $1.61 billion with options.
On 11 October 2005 US carrier SkyWest concluded with Bombardier a deal on 18 firm order CRJ700 jetliners plus additional four firm order aircraft from a previous contract option. The 22 aircraft were valued at $798 million.
On April 24, 2006 General Electric Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) announced that was acquiring five CRJ700 jetliners to lease them to Missouri-based GoJet Airlines. These aircraft were valued at $154 million.
Aircraft ordered by Horizon Air (20); Mesa Air Group (30 of which 10 are NextGen CRJ700); GoJet Airlines (4 CRJ700 NextGens); SkyWest (18 CRJ700 NextGen jets)
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Aircraft ordered by Felix Airways (8 CRJ700 NextGen)
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Notes
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Austria
Cameroon
Canada
China
France
Brit Air operates a fleet of 15 CRJ700 aircraft.
Germany
Turkey
United States of America
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