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FEATURE BACK FROM THE BRINK

Back from the Brink

A resurgent Bombardier has got the CSeries back on track again
By Atul Chandra

BOMBARdIER’S CSERIES WAS THE the sixties and derivatives of larger single includes Korean Air, Lufthansa Suisse, Air
Canadian airframer’s maiden attempt to aisle aircraft since then such as the Boeing Canada and now Delta Airlines. Since January,
deliver the first clean sheet single-aisle 737NG, date back over 15 years. Clearly there this year Bombardier has grown the order
jetliner in decades. The competition from existed a substantial market for an all new book by 127 firm orders with 80 options.
Airbus and Boeing was ferocious, even aircraft type such as the C Series. However, “We forecasted early marquee customer
though Bombardier officials insisted that the with repeated delays, technological deals in our five-year plan. These deals
two variants; the 110-125 seat CS100 and 135- challenges and mounting costs, the C Series solidify this guideline. They build confidence
160 seat CS 300 sought to target the market programme was rocked with turbulence in the program, we are reaffirming our US$2
space between highest capacity regional over the last couple of years. The ride now billion investment plan, and the C Series
jets, typically carrying about 80 passengers appears smoother, after the company made remains on track to free cash flow breakeven
and entry level single aisle offerings from some hard choices in 2015 to revitalise the in 2020,” said Alain Bellemare - President
Boeing and Airbus which started from 124- C Series programme. The start of 2016 has and Chief Executive Officer speaking during
125 seats but were configured by airline seen Bombardier achieve some important Bombardier’s Q1 2016 Results Earnings
customers with 140-156 seats in single class successes for the C Series in not only bagging Conference Call (source: seekingalpha.
configuration. Bombardier’s logic was simple, much needed orders for the CS 100 and CS com). American carrier Delta, announced
the last all-new aircraft family optimized for 300 but also improved the quality of the in April that it had signed up for 75 CS100s,
100- to 149-seat segment was the DC9 in backlog with a marquee customer list that with options for another 50 CS100 aircraft.

26 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE MAY/ JUNE 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA