Page 27 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE BACK FROM THE BRINK

substantial discounts. This was reflected in
Bombardier announcing an onerous contract
provision of approximately US$500 million
as a special item in the second quarter of
2016. Bombardier continues to prepare for
the Entry into Service of the CS100 aircraft
and the first aircraft is scheduled to be
delivered to Swiss International Air Lines
in June this year. Bombardier and Swiss
are also preparing for the first commercial
flight of the C Series scheduled for July 15,
an event that will be a significant milestone
for the program and will serve as a catalyst
for future sales campaigns. Bombardier
plans to deliver 15 C Series jetliners this year,
with plans to ramp up production to deliver
30 jetliners in 2017 with a gradual increase in
production after that to achieve a production
rate of 100 aircraft by 2020.
ABOVE: The clean sheet design of the C Series The order is the largest in the history of The C Series has been designed to
means that Bombardier has been able to Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Delta deliver significant improvements in the cash
deliver an aircraft with a wider cabin, that can
accommodate a wider aisle and wider seats. is also now the C Series aircraft’s largest operating cost versus the latest single aisle
A variety of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and customer. Deliveries are scheduled to aircraft from Boeing, Airbus and Embraer,
connectivity options will also be available. commence in spring 2018. Early into the new offering a 10-12 per cent cash operating
year, Air Canada signed a Letter of Intent for cost advantage. These efficiencies have
45 CS300 aircraft, along with options for an been made possible with Pratt & Whitney’s
additional 30. Lastly, Air Baltic Corporation PurePower PW1500G geared turbofan
announced its decision to convert its engine, the use of composites on the wing,
remaining seven options to firm orders for empennage and nacelle of the aircraft and
the CS300 aircraft. ““We are also finalizing usage of advanced aluminium alloys, which
our agreement with Air Canada for 75 aircraft offer better maintenance intervals and
including options. And earlier this month, Air lowers costs for the customer. In addition
Baltic converted its remaining seven CS300 to the improvements in fuel efficiency
purchase options, again, demonstrating the cabin is heavily focused on passenger
strong customer confidence in the aircraft,” comfort, with wider seats, a wider aisle
said Bellemare. to allow for efficient boarding/deplaning
Bombardier had now achieved its target and efficient use of cabin services, larger
of a firm order backlog of more than 300 windows ideally positioned for natural
aircraft before the C Series enters service, a illumination and outside views, more
target that was once thought to be unlikely overhead stowage space and adjustable LED
to be achieved. The total firm orders for lighting to customize cabin experience with
127 aircraft received this year are worth a “drop-in” mood capability – only to name a
approximately US$9.9 billion at list prices, few. Seating configurations range from dual
though the airline customers have secured class seating 108 passengers at 38’’ seat
pitch in business class and 32’’ in economy,
to single class super high density seating
160 passengers at 28’’ seat pitch. Several
entertainment and connectivity options will
be available, including in-seat audio/video
LEFT: Swiss is scheduled to commence on-demand; cabin Wi-Fi connectivity for
commercial flights with the CS100 on-board entertainment distribution; web-
from July 15 this year and the initial browsing via the latest generation satellite
few weeks in service will be keenly
observed by potential customers for and ground-based network; and on-board
the jetliner mobile telephony.
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