Page 8 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 Online Magazine

COVER STORY

expected to add 16,050 new aircraft. The windows provide greater cabin comfort than The company won two significant orders
burgeoning of the LCC market in the region its competitors. The lightweight aluminum in 2016 - Delta Air Lines has 75 C-Series
has helped grow the need for 11,840 new and composite body provides greater jets on order with an option for an additional
single-aisle airplanes. efficiency and while there are reports about 50 planes while Air Canada has ordered 45
teething problems with the Pratt & Whitney aircraft - but it hasn’t announced any new order
Perfect Timing PW1500G geared turbofan engines that the since. That is 18 months with nothing to show
Both Airbus and Bombardier seemed to aircraft uses, they are some of the most fuel for all the hard work that has gone into the
have walked off the table happy with the efficient on the market and reduces operating aircraft. At the Paris Air Show earlier this year,
deal. The partnership with Bombardier costs by about 15 percent compared to other the company flew in both the CS100 and the
will boost sales and the value of the aircraft. It is also the quietest ever aircraft, larger CS300 to woo carriers; it, however, did
programme tremendously, believes Airbus emitting 20 percent less carbon dioxide. not earn any new order. The company is short
Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders. “The Among the fans of the aircraft is Edward on orders, but even before the partnership with
C Series, with its state-of-the-art design Bastian, Delta Air Lines CEO, who likes Airbus was announced, there was no shortage
and great economics, is a great fit with our the innovation that sets its aside from its of confidence on the part of company officials
existing single-aisle aircraft family and competitors. “The Bombardier C Series about the market prospects of the C Series.
rapidly extends our product offering into a brings a 100-seat product to our market Kevin Smith, Bombardier VP-regional aircraft,
fast growing market sector. “Not only will that no U.S. manufacturer produce,” he told expects interest in the aircraft to pick up once
this partnership secure the C Series and its CNBC in an interview. “Boeing stopped Delta’s gets it first plane in the spring of 2018.
industrial operations in Canada, the U.K. and producing it, in fact, ten years ago. We were “When Delta starts operating the aircraft out
China, but we also bring new jobs to the U.S.” the largest user of the 717. It is innovation of New York and Los Angeles and then Seattle,
“Airbus is the perfect partner for us, Québec that this market place needs. It is one of the and Air Canada takes delivery in the spring of
and Canada,” said Alain Bellemare, Bombardier most environmentally friendly aircraft on the 2019, the aircraft will be ubiquitous,” Smith told
President and Chief Executive Officer. “Their market and we look forward to taking it.” reporters at the Regional Airline Association
global scale, strong customer relationships While there are no questions about the convention in West Palm Beach, Florida, in
and operational expertise are key ingredients aircraft, there were plenty of them regarding September this year. “ It will be everywhere.”
for unleashing the full value of the C Series. the viability of the C Series programme, which
This partnership should more than double the was developed at a cost of US$6 billion. The Ugly Tussle
value of the C Series programme.” new plane first flew four years ago, but with the The partnership not gives a fresh lease of
The partnership is great news for the C programme running into trouble, the company life to the C Series programme but also gives
Series aircraft, which had earned glowing had to delay its introduction into service Airbus a big advantage in its tussle with
reviews with many experts convinced that it and also seek funding from the Canadian Boeing for global aircraft sales. It changes
trumps like-sized Boeing and Airbus products government. Only two European carriers - the dynamics of the ongoing trade dispute
in terms of quality. The aircraft’s wider seats, Swiss International Airlines and Latvian carrier between Bombardier and Boeing, one that
bigger overhead compartments and larger AirBaltic - currently fly the C series. has snowballed into a diplomatic dispute

rigHt: Pierre Beaudoin,
Bombardier Chairman of the
Board, Tom Enders, Airbus CEO,
Alain Bellemare, Bombardier
President & CEO, Fabrice Bregier,
Airbus COO & President of Airbus
Commercial Aircraft

oPPosite toP: While Boeing
insists that the C Series is
a competitor for the 737
MAX Family, the 737 MAX 7
which seats between 138-153
passengers has not received a
major order since 2013
8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG