Spanish regional operator Air Nostrum has confirmed a firm order for 35 Bombardier CRJ1000 aircraft, after formalising an agreement to take a further 15 of the type and converting some backlogged CRJ900s.

Air Nostrum had already been tipped as one of the three launch customers for the type - along with Brit Air and MyAir - and has today formally identified itself as such.

The order dates back more than two years. Air Nostrum placed a firm order for 15 CRJ1000s, as an unidentified customer, plus a conditional order for 15 more.

This conditional order has been formalised, says Bombardier in a statement at the Paris Air Show today. It adds that Air Nostrum has also converted five backlogged CRJ900s to the larger type, bringing the carrier's total to 35 CRJ1000s.

Air Nostrum ordered 16 CRJ900s in 2004. The other 11 have already been delivered.

Bombardier values the order for the extra 15 aircraft at $793 million at catalogue prices. Delivery of these additional jets to the Valencia-based airline is set to begin in 2014 and continue to 2016.

Air Nostrum's agreement brings total firm orders for the CRJ1000 to 64 aircraft.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news