Alaska Air Group Orders Three Bombardier Q400 NextGen Turboprop Airliners

PARIS, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Seattle-based Horizon Air has signed a firm contract to acquire three 76-seat Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners. The transaction represents the conversion of three previously booked options on the aircraft. The airline also reconfirmed its options on another seven Q400 NextGen aircraft.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130618/SF33819)

Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the contract announced today is valued at approximately $98 million US.

The three new aircraft will increase Horizon Air's orders for Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners to 51 aircraft – the world's largest fleet. Including the order announced today, Horizon Air has ordered a total of 100 Bombardier Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft since 1985.

"This aircraft order represents a significant milestone for Horizon and our employees, who have dedicated themselves to transforming our business and enabled us to grow," said Glenn Johnson, Horizon Air President. "The addition of these three Q400 NextGen aircraft will allow us to venture into the state of Alaska, which is considered America's last frontier and is now an exciting new frontier for Horizon."

"Our Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft remain North America's preferred turboprop because they provide the best combination of fuel efficiency and productivity in their class," said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "Airlines that operate these aircraft successfully deploy them in a wide range of markets, from typical short-haul turboprop markets to longer-haul operations where they complement, and in some cases replace, jet aircraft.

"Horizon Air has been a Bombardier customer since 1985 when it ordered its first 10 37-seat
Dash 8-100 airliners," added Mr. Arcamone. "We are thrilled that the airline is returning to order more Q400 aircraft - a superb testament to the flexibility and reliability of the aircraft."

Bombardier also announced that Transport Canada has certified the Q400 aircraft for the advanced navigation capability of Required Navigation Performance AR 0.3 (RNP AR 0.3). The Q400 aircraft offers the most advanced navigation capabilities in the regional airline market. Horizon Air's Q400 aircraft are equipped with Head-up Guidance Systems (HGS) for all weather operations; Wide Area Augmentation Systems (WAAS) with approach guidance (LPV) for ILS-like landing minima at remote runways; and RNP AR 0.3 to fly curved approaches to airports in difficult terrain. The unmatched capability to land and take off at challenging runways in unsettled weather is another benefit of the Q400 aircraft.

Including the order announced today, Bombardier has booked firm orders for 471 Q400 and
Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 243 million passengers and have logged over 4.2 million flight hours and more than 4.5 million take-offs and landings. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft program includes some 50 operators and customers in 35 countries on five continents.

About Q400 NextGen aircraft
The Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner, which is built at Bombardier's Toronto, Ontario facility, is the most recent development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft, and the advanced successor to Bombardier's Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. Optimized for short-haul operations, the "comfortably greener," 70- to 80-seat Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint.

About Horizon Air
Established in 1981, Horizon Air was acquired in 1986 by Alaska Air Group, Inc., the parent company of Alaska Airlines. At its start, the airline operated two aircraft and served three destinations in Washington state. Today it flies 48 aircraft on behalf of Alaska Airlines and serves 39 cities in the western United States, Canada and Mexico.

Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study^SM for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. The company's vehicles, services and, most of all, employees are what make it a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the company posted revenues of $16.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or on Twitter @Bombardier.

Editor's note: Images of Alaska Airlines' Q400 NextGen aircraft are available in Alaska Airlines' online image gallery at http://splash.alaskasworld.com/newsroom/QXNews/images/hi-res/ASQ400_1.jpg.

SOURCE Alaska Air Group