Irish regional airline CityJet has exercised an option to buy four new CRJ900 aircraft from Bombardier.

Announced last month, the $467m deal also features a firm order for six CRJ900 aircraft.

Once delivered, the new aircraft will operate under wet lease in the Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) network.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft Europe, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States sales vice-president Ryan DeBrusk said: “CityJet has become one of our largest European CRJ900 aircraft advocates in a short period of time and we are delighted that the airline continues to put its confidence in Bombardier and its products.

“The CRJ900 aircraft is ideally suited to growing markets across Europe and is creating excellent value for a wide variety of operators with its superior performance, economics and enhanced cabin amenities.”

Part of Bombardier’s CRJ Series of regional jet, the CRJ900 aircraft provides flexibility to operators.

Bombardier has so far won 1,912 firm orders for CRJ family of aircraft.

“The CRJ900 aircraft is ideally suited to growing markets across Europe and is creating excellent value for a wide variety of operators."

CityJet executive chairman Pat Byrne said: “The CRJ900 is proving to be an extremely reliable and popular aircraft in our Nordic operations on behalf of Scandinavian Airlines.

“The confirmation of these orders, bringing us to 22 new CRJ900 aircraft in our fleet – further demonstrates CityJet's belief in this aircraft as a key part of our wet lease growth strategy.”

Since last year, the airline has taken delivery of 12 new CRJ900 aircraft, all of which were deployed in the SAS network.

In January, CityJet acquired Danish airline Cimber and a former wholly owned subsidiary of SAS, which currently operates a fleet of 11 CRJ900 aircraft.

Image: CRJ900 aircraft in SAS livery. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.