Atlantic Coast Airlines and Midway Airlines of the U.S. have added 34 Canadair Regional Jets to the Bombardier orderbook. ASA, a Delta Connection carrier, exercised options for 15 Series 200 and 12 of the larger 70-seater in a transaction valued in excess of $575 million. Midway placed a firm option for seven additional Series 200 aircraft valued at $148 million.

ASA has a total of 90 RJs on order or optioned. Midway ordered 10 firm CRJs plus 20 options last October and exercised three of the options in April, taking it to 13. The seven newly exercised options will bring the fleet to 20 firm and 10 remaining options. Delivery of the seven additional aircraft will occur during 1999. ASA will begin receiving its 200s in February 2000 and its 700s in fourth quarter 2001. The action brings to 159 the firm orders for the CRJ series.

By Arnie Lewis