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RwandAir has received the first of two Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aeroplanes from the jet manufacturer’s CRJ Series facility in Quebec, Canada.

The flag carrier placed its firm order for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, along with options to buy two more CRJ900 NextGen jets on 19 March. Terms of the latest deal have not been disclosed.

The aircraft was handed over to RwandAir during a ceremony attended by Rwanda’s high commissioner to Canada, Edda Mukabagwiza, as well as RwandAir CEO John Mirenge, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Mike Arcamone.

RwandAir has been using large aircraft for flights, which has proven to be expensive due to higher fuel consumption.

In a statement reported by allAfrica.com, RwandAir chief executive John Mirenge said that the new CRJ900 NextGen aeroplane would be used on regional routes.

"We want to increase our destinations and by the end of this year we shall be operating in South Sudan, Cameroon, Zambia and Zanzibar," Mirenge added.

"We want to increase our destinations and by the end of this year we shall be operating in South Sudan, Cameroon, Zambia and Zanzibar.”

The new Canadian Regional Jet (CRJ) aeroplane adds to the airline’s existing fleet of four Boeing 737 aircraft and one Bombardier Dash 8-200 aircraft. The second CRJ900 NextGen is expected to be delivered in 2013.

Powered by General Electric CF34-87C5 turbofan engines, the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft can accommodate up to 88 passengers, and has a maximum cruise speed of Mach0.83 (882km/h).

According to Bombardier, the lightweight and aerodynamics of the CRJ900 NextGen regional jet offers improved fuel efficiency and reduced operating costs compared with the rival jets.

Bombardier said that more than 200 Bombardier regional jets and turboprop planes were currently in service, with further orders from 50 operators in the Middle East and Africa.

The aeroplane manufacturer expects the order for its commercial aircraft in the Middle East and Africa to grow, forecasting 970 airplane deliveries over the next two decades.

Image: (L-R) RwandAir CEO John Mirenge, Rwanda’s high commissioner to Canada, Edda Mukabagwiza, and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft vice president and general manager Sylvain Leclerc at the handing over ceremony. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.