Bombardier Aerospace (Chalet C1-3) announced here at the Farnborough International Airshow yesterday that it received purchase orders and conditional commitments which push it past the 500-order milestone for both its Q400 and CSeries programs.

Thai carrier Nok Air converted two of four previously announced Q400 NextGen purchase rights to firm orders, while an African airline and existing Bombardier customer (that has asked to remain anonymous) signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire five CSeries airliners, pushing the total firm orders and commitments for the single-aisle airliner past the 500 mark. This is the first CSeries sale to an African operator.

The Nok Air contract is valued at $66 million, and the CSeries sale, if exercised, is valued at $365 million.

Nok Air already had two firm orders for the Q400, and is launch customer for the extra capacity Q400 with seating for up to 86 passengers. First delivery is scheduled in coming weeks, Bombardier said. Delivery dates for the newly firmed Q400 orders were not disclosed, as Nok Air keeps its plans for its expanded Q400 fleet under wraps for competitive purposes.

“The Q400 NextGen airliner will lay a major role in our domestic development, but also in our international expansion as we look at new destinations, such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia,” said Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin.

The CSeries order from the African operator comprises both CS100s and CS300s, the mix and delivery dates remaining undisclosed as the customer studies potential routes and deployment plans.

Bombardier also announced that an existing customer, also unnamed, has placed a conditional order, based on board approval, for seven CS300 airliners, and purchase rights for an additional six of the aircraft. This order, if approved, would bring the CSeries order book to firm commitments for 203 aircraft and not-yet-firm commitments for 310 more, from a combined 20 customers.