AtlasJet CEO praises CRJ900	June 2006

"The Bombardier CRJ900 is like our lifejacket. We don't want to take it off," Tuncay Doganer, CEO of AtlasJet exclaimed yesterday.

He took the opportunity to extoll the merits of the CRJ900, which can serve airports which its Boeing and Airbus fleets can not, at a press conference coinciding with the 6th annual AIREX 2006 show in Istanbul.

AtlasJet, which is operating three CRJ900s on an expanding domestic network, says its biggest competitor is the bus network. Some 16 million people travel the country by bus every year, he said, while AtlasJet flies 1.65 million passengers domestically, from an overall three million. So, the airline has devised a clever, interline agreement for passengers, so they can fly and use the bus, to suit their requirements.

The economics of the CRJ900 have proved to be very attractive, highlighted Tuncay, and greatly complement the Airbus A319 and A320s. However, as load factors increase, AtlasJet will need more seats, he said, pointing out serious interest in a proposed larger derivative of the CRJ900. Bombardier has dubbed this development the CRJ900X. This would be a natural development for the three year old Istanbul-based airline, which was first introduced to Bombardier aircraft with the CRJ700.

Tuncay was sharing a platform with Bombardier Regional Aircraft's Trung Ngo, VP Marketing and Communications and Kevin Smith, VP International Sales, addressing 12 media from Turkey, including two TV stations.

Kevin Smith presented him with a ceremonial key (for the airline's newly accepted third CRJ900). Turkey's Prime Minister Tayipp Erdogan had politely asked if he could keep the 'key' originally handed over, having enjoyed his flight on the CRJ900 so much.

Bombardier Regional Aircraft is exhibiting with Business Aircraft and Amphibious Aircraft at AIREX in Turkey this week. Yesterday, an AtlasJet CRJ900 displayed in the static park, alongside the Global Express and LearJet 60.