Bombardier Aerospace announced a $3.1 billion US order to sell 40 of its CS300 jet airliners to Republic Airways Holdings, a U. S. operator of 1,600 daily flights under half a dozen different airline names.

The advanced engines and design of the CSeries take Bombardier, manufacturer of smaller regional jets, into the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market, with a pledge to offer a significant operating cost benefit over Boeing and Airbus.

"The CS300 will help us dramatically reduce our fuel consumption and impact on the environment", Bryan Bedford, Chairman, President and CEO of Republic, said in a news release.

The deal is reported to include 40 of the planes, and an option on another 40, Montreal-based Bombardier posted in a news release Thursday. If the option is exercised, the deal will be worth $6.3 billion US to Bombardier.

Bombardier class B shares registered a closing price of 39 cents at $5.87 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The price is a 52-week high.

Republic revealed that the deliveries will initiate in 2015. The planes will be configured as a single cabin for 138 passengers.