Gordon Werner

Wednesday August 29, 11:41 am Eastern Time

Press Release

Bombardier Q400 Chosen by Japan Air Commuter

TORONTO, ONTARIO--Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Japan Air Commuter Co., Ltd. has selected the Bombardier Q400* airliner for its YS-11 turboprop fleet replacement program. Under terms of the contract, Japan Air Commuter (JAC) has placed firm orders for five Bombardier Q400 aircraft, plus one option.

Value of the firm ordered aircraft is Cdn$162 million (U.S.$105 million). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Japan Air Commuter is a subsidiary of Japan Air System Co., Ltd. one of the country's major airline operators. It will become the fifth airline in Japan to operate Bombardier Q* Series turboprops. The airline's Bombardier Q400 fleet will join Q100*, Q200* and Q300* aircraft in the country in providing reliable and economic service on Japan's regional airline routes.

"The Bombardier Q400 is eminently suitable on mainland services and on routes to Japan's offshore islands," said Japan Air Commuter. "Equipped with the advanced technology Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system, the Bombardier Q400 will provide our passengers with a modern cabin as comfortable as any regional jet. The aircraft has exceptional operating economics on JAC's network of short routes and will prove to be environmentally friendly to the communities served," said the company.

"We are delighted that an organization of the stature of Japan Air Commuter will be the Bombardier Q400 launch customer in Japan," said Steven A. Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "JAC made their selection following an exhaustive review of turboprop and jet aircraft competitors. With the speed and capacity characteristics of larger regional jets and airfield performance and operating economics of a turboprop, no other commercial aircraft can provide operators with the flexibility and productivity of the Bombardier Q400. We believe the Bombardier Q400 will continue to penetrate traditional short-haul jet markets and help revolutionize short-haul travel," he said.

Japan Air Commuter's parent organization, Japan Air System, connects 36 domestic destinations on mainland Japan and offshore islands, and flies internationally to Korea and The People's Republic of China.

Bombardier's Q400 is a 70- to 78-passenger, high-speed turboprop airliner designed to meet the requirements of regional airlines for larger aircraft on high-density, short-haul routes. The 360-knot airliner is the quietest turboprop available worldwide with a range of 1,360 nm (2,519 km) to help extend an airline's reach to new markets beyond current turboprop distances at jet-like speeds.

Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is a world leader in the design, and manufacture of innovative aviation products and services for the regional, business and amphibious aircraft markets. It also offers Bombardier Flexjet® fractional ownership, aircraft charter and management, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training for business, regional airline and military customers.

Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company, is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset management. The Corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific and its revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled Cdn$16.1 billion.

(R) Registered Trademarks of Bombardier Inc.

* Trademarks of Bombardier Inc.

Note to Editors: Images of Bombardier Q400 aircraft are available on our Web site photo gallery at: http://aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F15.htm

Contact:

Bombardier Aerospace
Colin Fisher
Phone: Toronto: (416) 375-3030