Bombardier CRJ700
A longer fuselage and a new slatted wing — the CRJ grows to 70 seats · First flight 1999 · In service 2001
Bombardier began design work on a larger CRJ in 1995 and officially launched the CRJ700, first known as the CRJ-X, in January 1997. More than a stretch of the CRJ200, it has a new wing with leading-edge slats, a slightly widened fuselage and a floor lowered so that the windows sit closer to eye level.
The prototype flew on 27 May 1999, Transport Canada certified the type in January 2001, and French regional airline Brit Air put it into commercial service that year. Three series were built: the 700 for 68 passengers, the 701 for 70 and the 702 for 78, each with a heavier ER option for more range.
A NextGen update with improved engines and a new cabin followed in 2008, with SkyWest as launch customer. In 2019 United introduced the CRJ550, a CRJ700 converted to 50 seats with a large first-class cabin to fit US scope rules. Including those, 330 CRJ700s were delivered.
