PARIS (AP) -- Spanish carrier Air Nostrum was confirmed Monday as the launch customer for Bombardier Inc.'s CRJ-1000 jet, with firm orders for 35 planes worth $1.75 billion at list prices.
Airlines often negotiate substantial discounts to the catalog price, particularly in tough economic times.
Gary Scott, head of the Canadian planemaker's commercial aircraft division, said Monday that the previously unidentified launch customer is Air Nostrum, which has placed firm orders for 30 of the 100-seat regional aircraft and converted a previously announced order for five CRJ-900 to CRJ-1000.
Air Nostrum has upgraded a Feb. 19 order announced by Bombardier -- when the buyer was not revealed -- which included a firm order for 15 CRJ-1000 and a conditional order for 15 CRJ-1000. Delivery is slated to run 2014-2016.