The American operator Delta Connection was a major source of orders for the CRJ200 early on; during April 2000, it was announced that the airline had placed a $10 billion order for 500 CRJs to meet its needs and its subsidiaries, these were a combination of CRJ200s and CRJ700s.[28] According to Flight International, during early 2000, Delta was operating more regional jets than any other North American airline.[29] By June 2003, the airliner operated a fleet of 223 CRJs and was ordering yet more of the type.[30] Delta's influence on the fortunes of the CRJ program was significant, during late 2004, when Bombardier announced an incoming cut in the type's production rate, amongst the reasons given was a delay in anticipated orders for additional CRJ200s.[31] A CRJ200ER delivered in 2003 had a $21 million value.[32]