Lessor Falko Regional Aircraft Limited Adds Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen Aircraft to its Portfolio

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA and LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - April 22, 2014) - Adria Airways (Adria) of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Falko Regional Aircraft Limited (Falko), and Bombardier Aerospace today announced that Falko has added a Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to its portfolio and that the aircraft has been leased to Adria. This acquisition by Falko, a global lessor focused on the regional aircraft sector, resulted from a sale and leaseback agreement with Adria and follows an earlier purchase agreement between Bombardier and Adria for two CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. Falko and Adria have agreed to finance the second CRJ900 NextGen aircraft under a similar sale and leaseback arrangement.

The addition of the first CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to Falko's portfolio follows the company's acquisition of a CRJ900 aircraft a few months ago.

"Our Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets are providing excellent cost efficiency, network flexibility and have been very well received by our passengers," said Mark Anžur, Chief Executive Officer, Adria Airways. "We are very pleased that we have been able to organize the addition of two more CRJ900 NextGen aircraft from Bombardier via sale and leaseback agreements with Falko."

"The addition of the CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft is the latest in a series of acquisitions since Falko's creation in 2011 and represents a further step in the development of the business as the world's leading independent lessor of regional jets," said Mark Hughes, Executive Vice President - Corporate Finance, Falko Regional Aircraft Limited. "The purchase is a key development for Falko, being the first new aircraft with delivery taken directly from the manufacturer and further strengthens Falko's commitment to pursuing targeted regional sector investments. Falko is now in a period of growth and expansion with a strong pipeline of acquisitions."

"We congratulate Falko on the acquisition of its first CRJ900 NextGen aircraft," said Ray Jones, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Asset Management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The CRJ900 NextGen aircraft's significant market potential and outstanding value retention, as well as the broad base of CRJ aircraft operators around the world, make the aircraft very attractive to lessors like Falko.

"By adding more CRJ900 NextGen regional jets to its fleet, Adria Airways is confirming that the aircraft are successfully replacing larger aircraft and providing optimum capacity for the airline's operations," added Mr. Jones. "Bombardier is delighted that the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft are proving to be efficient and economical assets that are contributing to Adria's success."