Bombardier CRJ700 series

Origins During the early 1990s, Bombardier Aerospace became interested in developing larger variants of the CRJ 100 and 200 and associated design work commenced in 1994. The CRJ-X, as the new range was initially designated, sought to compete with larger regional jets such as the Fokker 70, Fokker 100 or the British Aerospace 146. The CRJ-X featured a stretched fuselage, a lengthened wing, and up-rated General Electric CF34-8C engines, while maintaining a common type-rating with the CRJ 100 and 200. Leading-edge extensions and high-lift slats improved the wing performance, other aerodynamic changes included an enlarged horizontal tailfin. By March 1995, low-speed wind tunnel testing confirmed a range of in a 74-seat configuration intended for the North American market and in a 72-seat configuration intended for the European market. First deliveries were planned for 1999. In 1995, the development was projected to cost around C$300 million (US$200 million). In June 1996, Bombardier selected Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 4 avionics suite. During May 1996, General Electric formally launched the previously selected CF34-8C variant. Launch The CRJ-X launch was delayed by several months, due to negotiations with suppliers and subcontractors. During September 1996, Bombardier's board authorised sales of the CRJ-X. During January 1997, the CRJ-X was officially launched. By 1999, Bombardier had invested C$650 million (US$440 million) to develop the 70-seat CRJ700, which was listed at $24–25 million. A new final-assembly facility was established at Montréal-Mirabel International Airport, as the CRJ100/200's existing line had insufficient capacity. In January 2001, Transport Canada granted the CRJ700 its type approval. In May 2001, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification for the CRJ700 was close, but required two minor avionics-related changes. In September 1998, Bombardier considered developing an all-new 90-seat model, the BRJ-X, but ultimately opted for a stretched version of the CRJ-X, which became the CRJ900. It would share a type rating with the CRJ700, allowing pilots to transition between them with a three-day cross-crew qualification course. Development of the CRJ900 was underway by 1999, with Bombardier investing C$200 million for the CRJ900. The aircraft was initially priced at $28–29 million. but it was formally introduced in July 2000. The aircraft was designed for existing CRJ200 and CRJ700 operators seeking a larger capacity jet. One of the CRJ700 prototypes was modified to represent the CRJ900 configuration, later joined by a second purpose-built test aircraft. The CRJ900 made its maiden flight on February 21, 2001, five months ahead of schedule, and the first aircraft was delivered in April 2003. a redesigned cabin with larger overhead bins, and reduced costs by extending maintenance intervals. Mesaba Aviation (now Endeavor Air) operating at the time as Northwest Airlink (now Delta Connection), was the launch customer for the CRJ900 NextGen, and remains the largest operator of the CRJ900. A similar NextGen package was rolled out to the CRJ700 in 2008, with SkyWest Airlines as the launch customer. During 2016, Bombardier further modernized the CRJ Series with the "Atmosphere" cabin, which included a more spacious entryway, larger overhead bins, larger windows situated higher upon the fuselage, a larger forward lavatory on the CRJ900 and CRJ1000, and LED accent lighting. Maintenance intervals were also further extended, with "A" checks occurring every 800 flight hours and "C" checks every 8,000 flight hours. == Sales history ==

During April 2000, a substantial early order, valued at US$10 billion, for the CRJ700 (and CRJ200) was issued by Delta Air Lines, involving 500 aircraft along with options for 406 more. Comair, operating as Delta Connection, placed an order of 14 CRJ900s; by November 2007, six of these had entered revenue service. During September 2011, PLUNA received its 11th airplane (from an eventual total order of 15 with options). Estonian Air ordered three CRJ900 NextGen 88-seat aircraft. Also, SAS ordered 13 of these in March 2008. Iraqi Airways has ordered six Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen airliners and options on a further four of the type. In June 2010, Lufthansa ordered eight of the CRJ900 NextGen. In December 2012, Delta Air Lines ordered 40 CRJ900 NextGen worth $1.89 billion with 30 options. During February 2012, Garuda Indonesia ordered six CRJ1000s and took options for another 18. Danish lessor Nordic Aviation Capital also ordered 12 for Garuda to operate, with delivery beginning in 2012. According to Bombardier, by 2015, the CRJ series accounted for over 20% of all jet departures in North America; globally, the family operated in excess of 200,000 flights per month. Bombardier expected the 60–100-seat airliner market to represent 5,500 aircraft from 2018 through 2037. Divestment , following Bombardier's decisions to sell the CSeries to Airbus and the QSeries to Viking Air, the company was looking at "strategic options" to return the CRJ to profitability. Analysts suspected that it would decide to exit the commercial aircraft market altogether and refocus on business aircraft. On 25 June 2019, Bombardier announced a deal to sell the CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the parent company of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, which was developing the SpaceJet. Mitsubishi had a historic interest in the CRJ program, having sounded out risk-sharing options with Bombardier, and at one point expected to take a stake in the venture during the 1990s. The deal included the type certificate for the CRJ series; Bombardier worked with Transport Canada to separate the CRJ certificate from that of the Challenger. On 1 June 2020, closure of the deal was confirmed, with Bombardier's service and support activities transferred to a new Montreal-based company, MHI RJ Aviation Group. MHI RJ did not rename the aircraft, continuing to refer simply to the "CRJ Series". End of production The final CRJ to be produced, a CRJ900, was delivered to SkyWest Airlines on 28 February 2021. == Variants ==

CRJ700 series in 2001. Design work on the CRJ700 by Bombardier started in 1995, and the program was officially launched in January 1997. The CRJ700 is a stretched derivative of the CRJ200. The CRJ700 features a new wing with leading-edge slats and a stretched and slightly widened fuselage, with a lowered floor. Its first flight took place on 27 May 1999. FAA, and EASA Type Certificates. The CRJ700 first entered commercial service with Brit Air in 2001. Early-build aircraft were equipped with two General Electric CF34-8C1 engines, while later builds were equipped standard with the uprated -8C5. Maximum speed is at a maximum altitude of . Depending upon payload and configuration, the CRJ700 has a range up to . The CRJ700 family has seven different sub-variants: CRJ700 The baseline variant of the CRJ700 with a maximum passenger seating capacity of 68, a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of and a range of . CRJ700ER The "extended range" variant of the CRJ700 with a maximum passenger seating capacity of 68, a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of and a range of . CRJ701 The baseline variant of the CRJ701 with an increased maximum passenger seating capacity of 70, a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of and a range of . CRJ701ER The "extended range" variant of the CRJ701 with an increased maximum passenger seating capacity of 70, a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of and a range of . CRJ702 The baseline variant of the CRJ702 with a further increased maximum passenger seating capacity of 78, a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of . CRJ702ER The "extended range" variant of the CRJ702 with a further increased maximum passenger seating capacity of 78, a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of . CRJ550 on display at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University The CRJ550 is a variant of the CRJ700 limited by type certification to just 50 passenger seats and a lower maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of , compared to the CRJ700's . The CRJ550 was conceived and designed by GoJet Airlines and introduced by Bombardier to offer a 50-seat aircraft that complies with U.S. pilot contract scope clauses while offering more premium seats. All CRJ550s were converted from existing CRJ700s. The aircraft model is listed as CL-600-2C11 on the TCCA and FAA type certificates, after receiving certification in 2019. The CRJ550 has not yet been certified by EASA. The variant was announced on 6 February 2019 with launch customer GoJet Airlines, Operating as United Express, ordering 50 aircraft configured with 10 first class, 20 economy plus (extra legroom), and 20 economy seats. The first aircraft was delivered on 7 August 2019 ahead of FAA certification in September. In 2024, SkyWest Airlines also started operating a sizable fleet of CRJ550 aircraft. In July, it began introducing the first of 19 CRJ550s operating under the Delta Connection brand. In October, SkyWest announced it would operate an additional 40 CRJ550s under the United Express brand, including 11 previously operated by GoJet. In November 2024, SkyWest ordered 60 kits to convert aircraft into the CRJ550 configuration. The reconfiguration addresses a shortcoming of the CRJ series: limited overhead storage. Four large storage cabinets are installed on the cabin floor, allowing passengers to stow their carry-on luggage inside the cabin. Aircraft with 50 or fewer seats require only one flight attendant. Because this aircraft has a sizable first-class section, where passengers might typically expect a flight attendant to be dedicated to only serving first-class passengers, the CRJ550 is equipped with a self-service galley area to be stocked with a selection of snacks and a refrigerator with non-alcoholic beverages, enabling first-class passengers to enjoy refreshments at their leisure, particularly when the flight attendant is serving the economy cabin. CRJ900 series The CRJ900 is a stretched version of the CRJ700 with up to 90 seats. Internally designated as the RJX, the first CRJ900 (C-FRJX) was modified from the prototype CRJ700 by adding longer fuselage plugs fore and aft of the wings. It was later converted into the prototype CRJ1000 by replacing the fuselage plugs with longer plugs. The CRJ900 also features strakes located at the rear of the plane. The CRJ900 competes with the Embraer 175. Mesa Air Group was the launch customer for the CRJ900 painted in America West livery. The aircraft model is listed as CL-600-2D24 on the TCCA, which provides increased airflow to the air conditioning packs and allows for higher altitude and engine start limits. Additionally, a second lavatory has been added at the front of the cabin. The CRJ900 family has four sub-variants: These aircraft were configured with 10 business class and 65 economy class seats. The official designation for the CRJ705 on the TCCA By late February 2018, the conversion process was complete. All former CRJ705s received supplemental identification plates reflecting the change. CRJ1000 series view On 19 February 2007, Bombardier launched the development of the CRJ1000, previously designated CRJ900X, as a stretched CRJ900, with up to 104 seats. The CRJ1000 completed its first production flight on 28 July 2009 in Montreal; the entry into service was planned for the first quarter of 2010. A month after the first flight, however, a fault in the rudder controls forced the flight-test program to be grounded; the program was not resumed until February 2010, and deliveries were projected to begin by January 2011. Brit Air and Air Nostrum were the launch customers for the CRJ1000. Bombardier Aerospace announced on 10 November 2010 that its 100-seat CRJ1000 had been awarded aircraft type certificates by Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency, allowing deliveries to begin. On 14 December 2010, Bombardier began CRJ1000 deliveries to Brit Air and Air Nostrum. On 23 December 2010, it was announced that the Federal Aviation Administration had also awarded a type certificate, allowing the CRJ1000 to operate in US airspace. It has a separate type rating. Bombardier states that it offers better performance and a higher profit per seat than the competing Embraer E-190. The aircraft model is listed as CL-600-2E25 on the TCCA, Type Certificates. In 2018, a new CRJ1000 discounted price was $M, a 2015 model is valued $22.0M, a 2010 one is worth $15.5M for a $155,000 monthly lease, and it would be $12.0M in 2021 for a $145,000 monthly lease, while its D Check costs $800,000 and its engine overhaul costs $0.9 to 2.4M. There are three variants of the CRJ1000: CRJ1000 The baseline variant of the CRJ1000 with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of and a range of . Consequently, the range on the EuroLite is reduced to . Its first customer is Air France–KLM regional subsidiary Brit Air. Comparison of variants Below is a list of major differences between the CRJ-700 series variants. == Operators ==

is the largest operator of the series, operating them for Delta Connection (pictured), American Eagle, and United Express. , 266 CRJ700 aircraft (all variants), 444 CRJ900 aircraft (all variants), and 62 CRJ1000 aircraft were in airline service with SkyWest Airlines (143), Endeavor Air (114), PSA Airlines (108), Mesa Airlines (84), and other operators with fewer aircraft of the type. Deliveries Data as of 1 January 2021. ==Accidents and incidents==

in the Potomac River, Washington, D.C. • On 29 January 2025, American Eagle Flight 5342, a CRJ701ER registered as N709PS, carrying 64 people, collided with a United States Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River. All 67 passengers and crew on both aircraft were killed (64 on the CRJ700 and 3 on the Black Hawk). It was the third hull loss and first fatal accident involving the Bombardier CRJ700 series. aircraft upside-down on Toronto Pearson International Airport runway 23 • On 17 February 2025, Delta Connection Flight 4819, a CRJ900LR registered as N932XJ, crashed on landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, coming to rest upside-down. The plane lost its right wing and tail fin. There were no fatalities among the 80 passengers and crew, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. • On 22 March 2026, Air Canada Express Flight 8646 operated by Jazz Aviation, a CRJ900LR registered as C-GNJZ, collided with a firetruck responding to a separate emergency while landing at LaGuardia Airport, destroying the cockpit. There were two fatalities: the captain and the co-pilot. There were 41 total injuries. This marks the first fatal accident of a CRJ900. == Specifications (CRJ900) ==

In 2006, the CRJ700 was featured in Microsoft Flight Simulator X as one of the default aircraft. == Notes ==