German carrier Air Berlin has ordered 10 Q400 turboprop aircraft from Canadian planemaker Bombardier with a value of USD$267 million at list prices, the companies said on Wednesday.

The airline expects to receive four of the 76-seater aircraft this year and the remaining six in 2009 as it replaces Fokker 100 jets, Air Berlin said in a statement.

The carrier agreed an option to buy 10 more planes from Bombardier, the companies said. Bombardier had announced the order on October 23 but did not name the customer.

"We intend to use the Q400s mainly on short-haul flights where the passenger volume is not sufficient for us to operate jets," Air Berlin Chief Executive Joachim Hunold said in the statement, adding that they would lead to a "noticeable reduction" in costs and lower CO2 emissions per seat.

The aircraft would be operated by Air Berlin partner LGW, based in Dortmund, Germany, which currently operates six Dornier 228 aircraft, Air Berlin said.