Delta Places Jet Order With Bombardier

Bombardier Inc. said it received an order worth more than $2 billion from Delta Air Lines Inc. for 94 regional jets, the largest ever order of the small passenger planes. Montreal-based Bombardier, the biggest maker of the planes, said the No. 3 U.S. carrier will take delivery on 40- to 50-seat CRJ200 planes and 70-seat CRJ700s from 2001 through 2004. The agreement includes options on an additional 406 aircraft, which would value the order at $10 billion. Airlines are making increasing use of regional jets because they’re a more cost-efficient way to serve small cities than the slower, shorter-range turboprop. In addition, surveys show that the passengers who use commuter jets most--business travelers--prefer them over turboprops. General Electric Co.’s GE Aircraft Engines unit will supply the engines in an agreement that could be valued at $2 billion over 10 years.