Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Australia's largest domestic and international airline, Qantas Airways Limited has placed a firm order for three Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners. Based on the list price for the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the contract is valued at approximately $98 million US.

Qantas will use the aircraft to strengthen its extensive network in the Australian domestic market. The Q400 aircraft has been vital to Qantas' rapid expansion in regional Australia over the past five years.

This order will increase to 31 the number of Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners operated by Qantas. The airline also operates two Bombardier Dash 8-200, three Q200 and 16 Q300 aircraft.

"Qantas is a valued and long-time Bombardier customer and has undoubtedly contributed much to the Q400 aircraft's success and popularity in Australia," said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "Qantas has once again decided to go with the Q400 NextGen turboprop, and this is a testament to the aircraft's unmatched economics, reduced fuel burn and low operating costs."

With the transaction announced today, Bombardier has taken firm orders for a total of 463 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 243 million passengers and have logged over 3.8 million flight hours and more than 4.1 million take-offs and landings in service with more than 40 operators. Over 300 Bombardier commercial aircraft are operating in, or have been ordered for, the Asia-Pacific region.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 17, 2013)