Scandinavian carrier SAS says it has secured a compensation package with Bombardier and Goodrich following last year”s Dash Q400 incidents ” and has agreed to purchase more of the aircraft.
Precise details of the agreement remain undisclosed, although SAS is confirming that total compensation amounts to $163m (”81m) in the form a cash payment and credits for future aircraft orders.
The SAS board has approved an order for 27 aircraft from Bombardier with a further 24 on option, split between the CRJ900 NextGen and Q400 NextGen variants.
It is a somewhat surprising move given the severity of SAS president and CEO Mats Jansson”s comments following three landing gear incidents last autumn. ”Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft,” he said.
However, an SAS spokeswoman confirmed to ABTN from Stockholm that the new Q400 NextGen aircraft would be delivered to SAS Group airlines, Wideroe and airBaltic.
”The Q400 NextGen is a totally new aircraft ” it will not fly in SAS colours but with Wideroe as it suits their traffic system very well,” she said. ”We grounded them [Q400] because our crews did not want to fly them.”
The airline does not totally rule out operating the updated Q400 however: ”If the Q400 was something we needed, there is no reason why we would not consider it in terms of the new generation,” said a spokesman.
SAS will operate the new CRJ900 in tandem with group partner Estonian Air, with aircraft slated for a 2008-2011 delivery schedule.
”We are very satisfied with the settlement with Bombardier,” said Jansson. ”The CRJ900 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are well suited to our operations in northern Europe.”
And Wideroe was at some pains today to emphasise that it regarded the new Q400 as a safe aircraft. ”We would never fly an aircraft that we were not completely confident in,” said Wideroe CEO Per Arne Watle.
”If we have chosen to deploy the new Q400, it is because we are sure it is a safe and reliable passenger aircraft.”
The Norwegian carrier ” which will take five of the Q400s NextGen aircraft this year and two in 2009 - also pointed out that Qantas ” which it refers to as ”the world”s safest airline” is continuing to fly Q400s with seven operational and 12 on order.