Luxair takes the Q400	May 2006

Fuel economy, speed and passenger comfort led Luxair, the national airline of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, to select the Bombardier Q400 to lead its fleet rejuvenation. Luxair placed a firm order for three 360-knot (677 km/h) Q400 aircraft in May, 2006 and took options on three additional Q400 aircraft.

The Q400 “is as fast as jets on the main Luxair routes and presents no discrepancies on comfort levels,” Luxair said in a statement. “The spacious cabin will have a 72-seat configuration and thanks to its revolutionary noise and vibration reduction features, the noise level in the Q400 is actually lower than the jet. This also applies to noise emission; the Q400 will thus be a quiet neighbour to airport residents.”

And fuel economy? Luxair said the Q400 consumed on average 25 per cent less fuel than a competing jet, as well as 74 per cent less CO2 emissions.

“Luxair and many other airlines are returning to turboprops because of their unbeatable operating economics on short-haul routes,” said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. “The Bombardier Q400 has the lowest cost per seat in the industry, jet-like speed, jet-like comfort, and is leading the turboprop renaissance.”

Luxair plans to schedule the Q400 mainly on its Frankfurt, Paris, London and Munich routes; however, the Q400 is adapted to fly all current Luxair routes, the airline said.