Atlantic Coast Airlines in late May reached terms with Bombardier Aerospace on a revised delivery schedule for the remaining 42 CRJ200s on firm order after code-share partner United Airlines won a restraining order to prevent the Sterling, Va.-based regional from terminating its United Express contract. The agreed-upon schedule called for the immediate delivery of six airplanes, two more during this year’s fourth quarter, another six during next year’s fourth quarter and the final 28 in 2005.
ACA arranged financing for the eight aircraft scheduled for delivery this year from a mix of “traditional and nontraditional” sources. ACA expects to become the equity owner of at least six of the airplanes. The arrangement with Bombardier also grants ACA further flexibility for the deliveries scheduled after this year, depending on the outcome of negotiations with United. ACA said it also plans to remove six of its Jetstream 41 turboprops “in the coming months.”
