May 08, 2007

FlyBe airline orders 30 Bombardier planes

LONDON (AFP) - British low-cost airline Flybe said on Tuesday it would buy 15 jets from Canadian planemaker Bombardier Aerospace, with an option on 15 more, in a deal worth 788 million dollars (581 million euros).

Flybe said in a statement that it would purchase 15 Q400 78-seater aircraft over the next two years with the option to buy a further 15 planes.

"This latest order takes the total investment by Flybe in new aircraft to more than 2.0 billion dollars over the last two years and will drive the continued expansion of the company on the back of the recent acquisition of BA Connect," Flybe added in the statement.

British Airways had sold BA Connect, its regional business, to Flybe last year. The Bombardier order would replace the Embraer 145 planes which were acquired as part that deal.

"The new aircraft will help drive us forward and cement our position as one of Europe's leading low-cost airlines," said Jim French, Flybe chief executive and chairman.

Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.


Source: Yahoo! News

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