Pluna Orders Seven NextGen CRJ900 Regional Jets

Released on Monday, July 09, 2007

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Pluna Líneas Aéreas Uruguayas S.A. of Montevideo, Uruguay has signed a firm order for seven CRJ900 NextGen regional jets. The airline has also taken options on an additional eight CRJ900 NextGen aircraft.

The value of the contract for the firm-ordered CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, based on list prices, is approximately $261 million U.S. The contract value could increase to approximately $571 million U.S. if all the options are exercised.

Pluna, the national airline of Uruguay, was founded in 1936 and currently serves Montevideo, Asuncion, Buenos Aires, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago de Chile and Sao Paulo in South America and Madrid, Spain.

"The CRJ900 NextGen regional jet is ideally sized for our market; it has the low operating economics, cabin comfort and proven high reliability that we require," said Matias Campiani, Chief Executive Officer, Pluna. "The addition of the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft will enhance our ability to serve our regional markets with more frequent and more cost-effective service, and the new NextGen interior will provide a superb passenger experience. We will transform the flight experience in the region."

"This is a breakthrough order for Bombardier Aerospace and represents our first order for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft in South America," said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "The CRJ900 NextGen regional jet was selected following the airline's rigorous evaluation of all available aircraft.

Pluna is 75 per cent owned by Leadgate Investments, a consortium of investors from Uruguay, Germany, Argentina and the U.S., and 25 per cent owned by the Government of Uruguay.