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@VoyagesAfriq
embarks on CRJ Series Africa Tour
The Africa tour of the Bombardier CRJ Series got underway after the official handing over of the CRJ900 aircraft to the authorities of Uganda on Tuesday 22nd April 2019. The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni received the aircrafts and hoped it will change the face of connectivity in the country. The aircraft immediately left Entebbe, Uganda and made a stopover at Johannesburg where the manufacturers held a show to outdoor the new aircraft series. Delegates who attended the recently concluded AViaDev Africa conference had the privilege to have a feel of Africa’s newest bird during the welcome reception sponsored by Bombardier. It then moved to Kinshasa after leaving Cape Town. Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport was the next destination for the newly outdoored CRJ900 of Uganda Airlines. Stationed at the Air-force Base in Accra for the demo show, the Vice President of Bombardier Jean-Paul Boutibou conducted high-ranking government officials, diplomats and aviation players around the plane. The Bombardier CRJ900 has 12-business class seating with 64-economy seating and better legroom and self-sufficiency. Speaking to VoyagesAfriq on the sidelines of the demo show in Accra, Bombardier's Vice President in charge of EMEA , Russia & CSI JeanPaul Boutibou said, the tour was to offer passengers and the players in the industry the opportunity to have a feel of their new series. ‘’ The uniqueness of this aircraft is the fact that it’s a business aircraft 40
VOYAGESAFRIQ
Jean-Paul Boutibou speaking at this year's AviaDev welcome reception in Cape Town, South Africa and a little copy paste to commercial aviation. The aircraft is selfsufficient, can land and operate by itself, using its own stairs and cargo compartment. It’s at men’s height. So we can simply open the under belly, we can roll and unroll the aircraft. The only thing that is required is a stair, but at worst case scenario we can just carry the ladder and even access the cargo compartment. So the uniqueness of the aircraft is that it is very adaptable to basic airport infrastructure.’’ He added He noted that, Bombardier has a strong footprint in Africa and it offers the best economics in the market. “This type of aircraft is a business type but made to suit the economy class cabin and its self sufficiency. We are happy Uganda made the choice for the two aircrafts and we are happy many of the countries will opt for it. As of press time, the aircraft had left Accra for Lagos and will then go back to base before the other leg which will target the Maghreb and North Africa.
Uganda Airlines' CRJ 900 parked at the ExecuJet hangar in Cape Town Uganda Airlines' CRJ 900 parked at the AirForce base in Accra during the Demo Show
