Business at bombardier Aerospace Belfast will be boosted from the signing of a £60 million aircraft order.

The deal with Bombardier and Adria Airways from Slovenia is for three CRJ Next Gen regional aircrafts, key components for which are manufactured at the Belfast factory.

The order from Adria is for two CRJ900 and one CRJ1000 aircraft, and it is the fourth airline to sign up for a CRJ1000.

Belfast is responsible for the design and manufacture of the complete centre fuselage, nacelles and wing components for the CRJ900 Next Gen.

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The 100-seat CRJ1000 regional jet was launched in February this year, and Belfast hopes to be involved in producing the fuselage, nacelles and wing components for the new aircraft.

Adria Airways, a Star Alliance Regional carrier, has been a Bombardier customer since March, 1997 when it placed an order for two CRJ200 50-passenger regional jets. It currently operates seven of these aircraft as well as two 86-seat CRJ900 jets that entered service in May, 2007.

Tadej Tufek, Chief Executive Officer of Adria Airways, said: "We are delighted to be an early customer for the new CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft which promises significant operating cost advantages over other 100-seat jets as well as improved passenger comfort."

Steven Ridolfi, President of Bombardier Regional Aircraft said: "We welcome Adria Airways as our newest CRJ1000 NextGen customer."

Adria will be operating the 50-, 86- and 100- passenger jetliners.

(GK/JM)