The Bombardier CSeries or C Series is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range jet airliners designed by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace.
The 108 to 133-seat CS100 (officially BD-500-1A10) made its maiden flight on 16 September 2013, was awarded an initial type certification by Transport Canada on 18 December 2015 and entered service on 15 July 2016 with Swiss Global Air Lines. The 130 to 160-seat CS300 (officially BD-500-1A11) first flew on 27 February 2015, received an initial type certification on 11 July 2016, and entered service with launch customer airBaltic on 14 December 2016. At service entry operators realized a 21% lower fuel burn for the CS300 in replacing 32-year-old B737-300s, with a dependability above 99.3%, and 25% lower costs than the RJ100 for the CS100, while the passengers' and pilots' feedback is positive for the cabin and flight controls.
In October 2017, Airbus and Bombardier announced a partnership on the CSeries program, with Airbus acquiring a 50.01% majority stake for no outlay, with Bombardier keeping 31% and Investissement Québec 19%, with a second assembly line to open in Mobile, Alabama. When the deal closes in the second half of 2018, Airbus will assist in marketing and servicing.
Video Bombardier CSeries
Development
BRJ-X
When Fokker, which produced the Fokker 100 100-seat short-haul aircraft, was in difficulty, discussions began with Bombardier on 5 February 1996. After evaluating Fokker's opportunities and challenges, Bombardier announced an end to the acquisition process on 27 February. On 15 March, Fokker was declared bankrupt.
On 8 September 1998, Bombardier launched the BRJ-X, or "Bombardier Regional Jet eXpansion", a larger regional jet than the Canadair Regional Jet due to enter service in 2003. Instead of 2-2 seating, the BRJ-X was to have a wider fuselage with 2-3 seating for 85 to 110 passengers, and underwing engine pods. It was abutting the smallest narrow-body jetliners, like the 2-3 DC-9/MD-80/Boeing 717 or the 3-3 A318 and 737-500/737-600. At the end of 2000, the project was shelved by Bombardier in favour of stretching the CRJ700 into the CRJ900.
Meanwhile, Embraer launched its four-abreast, under-wing powered E-jets for 70 to 122 passengers at the Paris Air Show in June 1999, which made its maiden flight in February 2002 and was introduced in 2004. Airbus launched its 107-117 passengers A318 shrink on 21 April 1999, which made its first flight in January 2002, as Boeing had the 737NG-600 first delivered in September 1998.
Feasibility study
Bombardier appointed Gary Scott on 8 March 2004 to evaluate the creation of a New Commercial Aircraft Program. Bombardier launched a feasibility study for a five-seat abreast CSeries at Farnborough Airshow in July 2004 to replace aging DC-9/MD-80, Fokker 100, Boeing 737 Classic and BAe-146 with 20% lower operating costs, and 15% lower than aircraft produced at the time. The smaller version should carry 110 to 115 passengers and the larger 130 to 135 passengers over 3,200 nautical miles.
Bombardier's Board of Directors authorized marketing the aircraft on 15 March 2005, seeking firm commitments from potential customers, suppliers and government partners prior to program launch. The C110 was planned to weigh 133,200 lb (60,420 kg) at MTOW and have a length of 114.7 ft (35 m), while the C130 should be 125.3 ft (38.2 m) long and have a 146,000 lb (66,226 kg) MTOW. It would have 3-by-2 standard seating and 4-abreast business class, 7 ft (2.1 m) stand-up headroom, fly-by-wire and side stick controls. 20 percent of the aircraft weight would be in composite materials for the center and rear fuselages, tail cone, empennage and wings. First flight was planned for 2008 and entry into service in 2010.
In May 2005, the CSeries development was evaluated at US$2.1 billion, shared with suppliers and partner governments for one-third each. The Government of Canada would invest US$262.5 million, the Government of Quebec US$87.5 million and the Government of the United Kingdom US$340 million (£180 million), repayable on a royalty basis per aircraft. The UK contribution is part of an investment partnership for the location of the development of the wings, engine nacelles and composite empennage structures at the Belfast plant, where Bombardier bought Short Brothers in 1989.
The CSeries' cross section was designed to give enhanced seating comfort for passengers, with features like broader seats and armrests for the middle passenger and larger windows at every seat to give every passenger the physical and psychological advantages of ample natural light.
On 31 January 2006, Bombardier announced that market conditions could not justify the launch of the program, and that the company would reorient CSeries project efforts, team and resources to regional jet and turboprop aircraft. A small team of employees were kept to develop the CSeries business plan, and would include other risk-sharing partners in the program.
Program launch
On 31 January 2007, Bombardier announced that work on the aircraft would continue, with entry into service planned for 2013. In November 2007, Bombardier selected the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan, now the PW1000G, already selected to power the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, to be the exclusive powerplant for the CSeries, rated at 23,000 lb thrust (102 kN).
On 22 February 2008, the Board of Directors authorized Bombardier to offer formal sales proposals to airline customers of the CSeries family, providing 20% better fuel burn, and up to 15% better cash operating costs versus similarly sized aircraft produced at the time, with the interest of Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and ILFC.
On 13 July 2008, in a press conference on the eve of the opening of the Farnborough Airshow, Bombardier Aerospace formally launched the CSeries, with a letter of interest from Lufthansa for 60 aircraft, including 30 options, at a US$46.7 million list price. The aircraft fuel efficiency would be 2 litres per 100 kilometres (120 mpg-US) per passenger in a dense seating. The final assembly of the aircraft would be done at Mirabel, wings would be developed and manufactured at Belfast and the aft fuselage and cockpit would be manufactured in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. The fuselage should be built by China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC)'s affiliate Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.
Bombardier estimated the market for the 100- to 149-seat market segment of the CSeries to be 6,300 units over 20 years, representing more than $250 billion revenue over the next 20 years, and expects to capture up to half of this.
The new Pratt & Whitney engine should yield 12 percent better fuel economy than existing jets while being quieter, with further improvements from the airplane aerodynamics and lightweight materials. The 15% better cash operating costs come from the engines and high use of composite materials, like the wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB.
In November 2009, the program was estimated at $3.5 billion, shared with suppliers and governments.
Ghafari Associates was retained to develop the Montreal manufacturing site to accommodate CSeries production.
Suppliers
Selected in July 2008, the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics incorporates 15 inch displays, with comprehensive navigation, communications, surveillance, engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS), and aircraft maintenance systems. In March 2009 Bombardier confirmed major suppliers: Alenia Aeronautica for the composite horizontal and vertical stabilisers, Fokker Elmo for the wiring and interconnection systems and Goodrich Corporation Actuation Systems: design and production of the flap and slat actuation systems.
In June, 96% of billable materials had been allocated, adding Shenyang Aircraft Corporation for the centre fuselage, Zodiac Aerospace for the interiors, Parker Hannifin for the flight control, fuel and hydraulics systems, Liebherr Aerospace for the air management system, United Technologies Corporation for the air data system, flap and slat actuation systems, and engine nacelles.
The composite wings are manufactured and assembled at a purpose built factory at the Bombardier Aerostructures and Engineering Services (BAES) site in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The aft fuselage and cockpit are built in Bombardier's Saint-Laurent Manufacturing Center in Quebec, with final assembly at Mirabel, Montreal, Quebec.
Developments
In March 2009, Bombardier redesignated the C110 and C130 respectively CS100 and CS300. The models were offered in normal and extended range (ER) versions, additionally, an extra thrust (XT) version of the CS300 was also offered. The ER and XT versions were removed in 2012 by Bombardier, providing a standard range equal to the one previously identified as extended range.
In January 2010, JP Morgan reported that Bombardier was considering a 150-seat version of the CSeries. Bombardier called the report speculative, noting that the CSeries development program "is in the joint definition phase where we will be able to add greater product definition and that includes the ability to make changes before the final design is frozen".
At the Farnborough Airshow in July 2012, Bombardier started discussions with AirAsia about a proposed 160-seat configuration for the CS300 airliner. In November 2012, this configuration was included in the CS300 project, although AirAsia rejected this proposal.
In May 2015, The Wall Street Journal's Jon Ostrower reported that Bombardier was studying a CS500 further stretched variant to compete with the core 160 to 180 seats versions of the Boeing 737 and A320 airliners, but development has not been committed to yet.
Program schedule
In November 2009, first flight was expected in 2012. In 2010, deliveries of the CS100 were planned to start in 2013, and CS300 deliveries were to follow a year later.
In February 2012, the first CS100 delivery remained scheduled for the end of 2013. In March 2012, Bombardier precised the target date for the first flight as the second half of 2012. In June 2012, Bombardier reaffirmed this first flight should happen before the end of the year and the entry into service by 2013.
During a conference call in November 2012, Bombardier Aerospace acknowledged a delay of six months, for both first flight to June 2013 and entry into service of the CS100 one year later, due to issues with some unspecified suppliers.
On 20 February 2013, the CSeries PW1500G variant of the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G was granted certification by Transport Canada.
Flight testing
An extensive update on the CSeries program was presented on 7 March 2013; the first "flight test vehicle" (FTV) was displayed in an almost completed state, along with three other FTVs in various states of assembly and confirming the 160-seat "Extra Capacity" version of the CS300, featuring two sets of over wing emergency exits. The electrical system of the first flight test aircraft was successfully powered up in March 2013 and tests on the static test airframe proceeded satisfactorily and on schedule.
In June 2013, due to upgrades of the aircraft's software and final ground testing, Bombardier shifted the timeline for the first flight into July 2013. On 24 July 2013, due to a longer than expected system integration process, the first flight was delayed into "the coming weeks". On 30 August 2013, Bombardier received the flight test permit from Transport Canada, granting permission to perform high speed taxi testing and flight testing.
On 16 September 2013, the CS100 made its maiden flight from Mirabel Airport. Over 14,000 data points were gathered on this first flight, and after some reconfigurations and software upgrades, the aircraft flew for the second time on 1 October 2013. On 16 January 2014, the planned entry-into-service date was delayed again, due to difficulties with certification flight testing, by at least 12 months, to the second half of 2015; the CS300 was still to follow approximately six months after the CS100.
On 29 May 2014, one of the four test aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure. The test program was suspended until an investigation of the incident could be completed. The incident kept Bombardier from showcasing the CSeries at the week-long 2014 Farnborough Airshow, one of the most important events for the aerospace and defence industry. In August 2014, after slashing its workforce, Bombardier changed the management overseeing the still-grounded aircraft.
Flight testing was resumed on 7 September 2014, after the engine problem had been identified as a fault in the lubrication system where a failure of a Teflon seal resulted in failure of the low pressure turbine causing heat soaking of the oil feed tube to the number 4 bearing. Bombardier chairman Laurent Beaudoin stated that the CSeries is expected to be in commercial service in 2016.
A major consequence of the delays has been cancellations, including the orders from the Swedish lessor. On 20 February 2015, CSeries CS100 aircraft had completed over 1,000 flight test hours.
On 27 February 2015, the CS300 prototype took off for its maiden flight at Bombardier's facility at Montreal Mirabel International airport in Quebec. Test flight results showed the aircraft exceeds noise, economic and performance guarantees which may allow for longer range than advertised.
The fifth CS100 first flew on 18 March 2015. On 27 March 2015, Bombardier stated that Canadian certification for the CS100 should come in late 2015 with entry into service in 2016. At the 2015 Paris Air Show, Bombardier released updated performance data, showing improvements with respect to the initial specifications.
On 20 August 2015, Bombardier disclosed it had completed over 80% of the required certification tests for the CS100. On 14 October 2015, Bombardier disclosed it had completed over 90% of the required certification tests for the CS100 and that the first production CS100 aircraft would soon commence function and reliability tests. The CS100 completed its certification testing program in mid-November 2015. On 25 November 2015, Bombardier completed the first phase of its route proving capabilities, with a 100% dispatch reliability.
After a development process that cost US$5.4 billion to December 2015, including a US$3.2 billion writeoff, the smallest model in the series, the 110-125 seat CS100 received initial type certification from Transport Canada on 18 December 2015. At the time, the company had 250 firm orders and letters of intent, plus commitments for another 360, but most of these were for the CS300 model, expected to be certified by the summer of 2016. The first CS100 is expected to be in service with Lufthansa's subsidiary Swiss by mid-2016.
The final prototype, Flight Test Vehicle 8 (FTV8), the second CS300, made its first flight on 3 March 2016.
Program support
In October 2015 Airbus confirmed that it had turned down Bombardier's offer to sell a majority share of the CSeries to them. Bombardier then said it would explore alternatives. Just days before, the Government of Quebec reiterated that it would be willing to provide Bombardier with financial aid, should the company request it. Richard Aboulafia, Teal Group vice president of analysis, and a long-time critic of the CSeries, indicated that the cancellation of the program and coverage of losses by the Government of Canada were both likely. Bombardier stated that it was fully committed to the CSeries and had the financial resources in place to support the program.
On 29 October 2015, Bombardier took a CA$3.2 billion writedown on the CSeries. The incoming Trudeau government indicated that it would reply to Bombardier's request for $350 million in assistance after it took power in early November. On the same day, the Quebec government invested CA$1 billion in the company to save the struggling programme.
In early November 2015, A Scotiabank report indicated that the company and the program would probably need a second bailout, and that even then the CSeries would probably not make money: Scotiabank analyst Turan Quettawala said, "we believe that the writedown corroborates our long-held view that the CSeries is not going to be value accretive under any scenario."
In April 2016, the Government of Canada offered an aid package to the company without divulging the amount or conditions it imposed. On that date, some media reported that Bombardier had rejected the offer, but an unnamed source advised Reuters that in fact, negotiations were still under way. On 14 April 2016, Bombardier shares were at a six-month high based on then-unconfirmed rumours that Delta had ordered CSeries jets.
In 2016, it was reported that the company was requesting a CA$1 billion aid package from the Government of Canada. In February 2017, Canada announced a package of CA$372.5 million in interest-free loans for Bombardier, with the CSeries to receive one-third.
Certification
US Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency certification for the CS100 was granted in June 2016. The first CSeries, a CS100, was delivered to Swiss Global Air Lines on 29 June 2016 at Montréal-Mirabel International Airport.
The CS300 aircraft was awarded its type certificate by Transport Canada on 11 July 2016. The CS100 and CS300 were awarded a common type rating on 23 November 2016 from EASA and Transport Canada, allowing pilots to qualify on both types interchangeably. The first CS300 was delivered to AirBaltic on 28 November 2016. It was awarded type validation by the FAA on 14 December 2016.
In March 2017, Bombardier conducted steep 5.5? approach landings tests at London City Airport (LCY), making it the largest airplane to land there. Bombardier announced that the CS100 received Transport Canada and EASA steep approach certification in April 2017. Swiss completed its first revenue flight to London City on 8 August 2017 from Zurich, replacing the Avro RJ.
Production
Production was set to ramp from seven CSeries deliveries in 2016 to 30-35 aircraft in 2017 after Pratt & Whitney PW1000G supply and start issues are resolved. Production could increase to 90-120 aircraft per year by 2020. The CSeries delivery goal for 2017 was revised to 20 to 22, due to Pratt & Whitney delivery delays. With 14 deliveries completed by 11 December, reaching this target would require delivering six aircraft in less than the three weeks remaining in the year.
After months of engine delays, Korean Air received its first CS300 on Friday 22 December 2017. Its second was scheduled to arrive in Seoul on 1 January 2018, with the type's entry into service planned for 16 January 2018 and the remaining eight aircraft to be delivered later in 2018, among 40 total planned CSeries deliveries.
Airbus takeover
On 16 October 2017, Airbus and Bombardier Aerospace announced a partnership on the CSeries program, with Airbus acquiring a 50.01% majority stake, Bombardier keeping 31% and Investissement Québec 19%, to expand in an estimated market of more than 6,000 new 100-150 seat aircraft over 20 years. Airbus' supply chain expertise should save production costs but headquarters and assembly remain in Québec while U.S. customers would benefit from a second assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in 2018. Airbus did not pay for its share in the program, nor did it assume any debt. Airbus insists that the company has no plan to buy out Bombardier's stake in the C-series program, and Bombardier would remain a strategic partner after 2025.
While assembling the aircraft in U.S. could circumvent the 300% duties proposed in the Cseries dumping petition by Boeing, Airbus CEO Tom Enders and Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare assured that this factor did not drive the partnership, but negotiations began in August after the April 2017 filing and the June decision to proceed and, as a result, Boeing was suspicious. Leeham News commented that "the Airbus-Bombardier partnership [...] thrusts a big stick up Boeing's tailpipe".
The 2010 order for 40 CS300s and 40 options from Republic Airways Holdings - then owner of exclusive A319/320 operator Frontier Airlines - pushed Airbus into the A320neo re-engine. Airbus COO-customers John Leahy initially avoided ignoring the CSeries and allowing it to grow as Boeing did with Airbus and aggressively competed against Bombardier. He thinks by "pressing the Trump Administration for 300% tariffs, [Boeing] forced them into our hands", and Boeing doesn't care about the present cost to "not to have competition, [...] an admission of a weak product line and a weak commercial organization that they say we just can't afford that competition".
With the Airbus corporate strength behind it, AirInsight anticipate the CSeries market share of the 100-149 seat market over 20 years will increase from 40% of 5,636 aircraft (2254 sales) to 55-60%, around 3,010 aircraft. Supplier costs could be cut by 30-40% by Airbus' market power, as a 10% procurement costs decrease would add six gross margin points to the program. Boeing seems seriously concerned it cannot match fleet package deals enabled by the partnership. A CS500 stretch would allow Airbus to enlarge its A320-family replacement to better compete with the proposed Boeing New Midsize Airplane. Airbus will assist in marketing and servicing.
At the Dubai Airshow in November 2017, Embraer assured it will monitor Airbus marketing involvement until antitrust immunity is granted, for dumping pricing after, and that Brazil will sue Canada for its subsidies to Bombardier through the World Trade Organization. Bombardier plans to deliver 40-45 CSeries in 2018 as regulatory clearance would happen likely toward the end of the year. Embraer think Airbus will not be able to lower the CSeries supply chain costs enough to make it profitable and view it as heavy, expensive and adapted to long, thin routes exceeding the E-jet E2 range, whose operational capabilities will win a majority of the market share as commitments should follow certification and entry into service.
During competition investigation, the partners operate separately and clean teams with privileged access to competitively sensitive data but separated from their management are planning the integration, evaluating synergies and preparing communications to regulators. Antitrust approval could be finalized by the summer 2018 Farnborough Air Show and would allow a marketing push. The CSeries could be rebranded as the A200: A210 for the CS100 and A230 for the CS300. As the clearances process is almost completed, the takeover could be achieved by May 2018 end, accelerating orders and cost-reduction efforts.
Airbus is seeking to reduce costs from all suppliers, including Bombardier, wing builder Short Brothers and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. The Mobile facility should start deliveries starting in 2020. Once approved, the CSeries team will be formed by leaders from both Bombardier and Airbus and will be headed by Philippe Balducchi, currently Head of Performance Management at Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
On June 8, after regulatory approval, Airbus and Bombardier announced that Airbus will get a majority stake on July 1, 2018. The head office, leadership team and primary final assembly line will stay in Mirabel, with its workforce of 2,200. Bombardier will fund the cash shortfalls if required, up to US$610 million from the second half of 2018 to 2021. The FAL in Mobile will start deliveries in 2020 with a monthly production rate of four, rising to six for a capacity of eight while the main Mirabel FAL can go to ten.
At the 2008 launch of the program, Bombardier forecast 315 annual deliveries from 2008 to 2027 for 100-150 seat airliners, but in the first 10.5 years, the six models available (B737-700, A318/A319, CS100/CS300 and E195) averaged fewer than 80 per year.
Maps Bombardier CSeries
Operational history
Swiss began revenue flight on 15 July 2016 with a flight between Zurich and Paris. CS300 revenue service began on 14 December 2016 with a flight from Riga to Amsterdam in a 145-seat two-class configuration.
Swiss stated: "The customer feedback is very positive with the expected remarks concerning the bright cabin, reduced noise, enough leg room and space for hand luggage as well as the comfortable seats. Also the feedback from our pilots is gratifying. They especially like the intuitive flying experience." AirBaltic lauded lower noise levels for passengers and more space for luggage than its Boeing 737-300s.
Bombardier targets a 99% dispatch reliability at entry into service. In August 2016, Swiss reported "much higher" reliability than other new aircraft, citing Airbus' A380, A320neo and Boeing's 787. After four months of service with Swiss, this goal seems to have been met based on only three aircraft and 1,500 hours flown; "nuisance messages" from the integrated avionics suite and the PW1000G start-up delays have been the main griefs. Dispatch reliability rates of 99% were met in April 2017. A year after introduction, launch operators had fewer issues than expected for a new program. Air Baltic have 99.3%-99.4% dispatch reliability, similar to the established Q400 but less than the 99.8% Boeing 737 Classic benefiting from its ubiquitous presence. It improved to 99.85% in October 2017.
Since the PW1500G mount generates less strain on the turbine rotor assembly than the A320neo's PW1100G, it doesn't suffer from start-up and bearing problems but still from premature combustor degradation. After 28,000 engine hours in 14 in-service aircraft with a powerplant dispatch reliability of 99.9%, Swiss replaced an engine pair in May 2017 after 2,400 h, while AirBaltic replaced another one in June. An updated combustor liner with a 6,000-8,000 h limit has been developed and a third generation for 2018 will raise it to 20,000 h in benign environments.
Upon introduction, both variants are performing above their original specifications and the CS300 range is 2% better than the brochure, as are its per seat and per trip cost. airBaltic reports a 2600 l/h fuel consumption against 3000 l/h for its Boeing 737-300 with similar capacity. It then claimed 21% better fuel efficiency. Fuel burn is more than 1% lower than the marketing claims and Bombardier will update its performance specifications later in 2017. The CSeries is 25% cheaper to fly than the Avro RJ100 which it replaces at Swiss. On long missions, the CS100 is up to 1% more fuel efficient than the brochure and the CS300 up to 3%. The CS300 burns 20% less fuel than the Airbus A319, 21% less than the 737 Classic while the CS100 burns 18 to 27% less per seat than the Avro RJ.
Swiss initially flew six sectors a day and now for up to nine a day with an average time of 1 h 15 min. Air Baltic's flight length averages 3 h, and the average fleet daily utilisation is 14 h. In September 2017, over 1.5 million passengers had 16,000 revenue flights in the 18 aircraft in service, making up to 100 revenue flights per day on 100 routes: most used are up to 17 hours per day and up to 10 legs per day. Quick 35 min turnarounds even allowed 11 legs per day.
The A Check is scheduled after 850 flight hours, it took initially 5 h and is reduced since to less than 3 h, within an 8 h shift. C Check are scheduled after 8,500 h - typically 3.5 years of operation. Based on in-service experience, A-checks intervals could increase to 1,000 h and C-checks to 10,000 h toward the end of 2019. By September 2017 end, the fleet had undergone 20 A-checks with no findings.
Design
The Bombardier CSeries aircraft contains a high proportion of composite materials and features larger windows. The CSeries cabin features large, rotating overhead storage bins, allowing each passenger to stow a sizeable carry-on bag overhead. Bombardier claims that compared to the cabins of current in-service narrowbody aircraft, the CSeries provides airlines with the highest overhead bin volume per passenger and a wider aisle that allows for faster boarding and disembarkation of passengers.
The CSeries aircraft contain 70% advanced materials comprising 46% composite materials and 24% aluminium-lithium. Bombardier offers an overall 15% lower seat-mile cost, 20% lower fuel burn and a CO2 emissions advantage, a 25% reduction in maintenance costs and four-fold reduction in the noise footprint compared to existing production aircraft.
Bombardier claims the engine and the wings will save up to 20% fuel compared with the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737NG; the CS300 is 6 tons lighter than the Airbus A319neo and nearly 8 tons lighter than the Boeing 737 MAX7, helping it to achieve up to 12% operating costs savings and 15% with the current models.
Operators
As of 31 May 2018, 29 CSeries aircraft are in commercial service:
- Swiss International Air Lines (8 CS100s, 9 CS300s)
- airBaltic (8 CS300s)
- Korean Air (4 CS300s)
Orders and deliveries
The Bombardier CSeries family has the following firm orders and delivered aircraft totals, as of 31 March 2018:
As of 28 May 2018
Orders and deliveries by year
As of 28 May 2018
Market
The CS100 is to compete with the Embraer E195-E2 while the CS300 is to compete with the Boeing 737 MAX 7, Airbus A319neo, and Irkut MC-21-200.
The effect of stiff competition and production delays was apparent in early 2016. On 20 January, United Continental Holdings ordered 40 Boeing 737-700 aircraft instead. Aside from ready availability of aircraft already in full production, the purchase of Boeing vs. the Bombardier CSeries was financially prudent. Since United already flies 310 of the 737, there will be savings for pilot training and fewer spare parts will need to be stocked. Boeing also reportedly gave United a massive 73% discount on the 737 deal, dropping the price to $22 million per aircraft, well below the CS300 market value at $36 million. In November 2016, United deferred this order to save $1.6Bn in CAPEX or $26 million per 61 aircraft.
David Tyerman, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity offered the following assessment of the impact of this news to the Toronto Star: "This just shows how difficult it is for Bombardier to win orders these days. It's not the end of the world, but this loss illustrates what they are up against. It also raises the question of how profitable the next C Series order they win will be for them."
On 17 February 2016, Air Canada signed a letter of intent with Bombardier for up to 75 CS300 aircraft as part of its narrowbody fleet renewal plan. This comprised 45 firm orders, plus options for an additional 30 aircraft. It includes substitution rights to CS100 aircraft in certain circumstances, with deliveries to occur from late 2019 to 2022. The $3.8 billion order for 45 CS300 aircraft was finalized on 28 June 2016.
On 28 April 2016, Bombardier and Delta Air Lines announced a sale for 75 CS100 firm orders and 50 options, the first aircraft should enter service in spring 2018. Delta Air Lines, it was thought, would likely start using more fuel-efficient CS100s in 2018 on flights out of Los Angeles, New York and Dallas. Airways News believe that a substantial 65 to 70% discount off the $71.8 million list price was provided making the final sale at $24.6-28.7 million price per aircraft; this large order from a major carrier could help Bombardier to break the Boeing/Airbus duopoly on narrowbody aircraft.
With those 127 firm orders in early 2016, introduction should be with a firm backlog of more than 300 orders and up to 800 aircraft including options, conditional orders, letters of intent and purchase rights; they imply an onerous contract provision of around $500 million, $3.9 million per order.
The involvement of Airbus as majority owner of the CSeries will have benefits. Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare said the partnership would significantly accelerate sales. "It brings certainty to the future of the program so it increases the level of confidence that the aircraft is there to stay. Combining the CSeries with Airbus's global scale ... will take the CSeries program to new heights".
Bombardier received a letter of intent for 31 firm orders and 30 options from an unidentified European carrier, to be finalised before 2017 end. These should be CS100s based on the announced list value. Egyptair announced a letter of interest for 12 CS300s and 12 options at the November 2017 Dubai Air Show. With the two orders planned to be finalised by the end of 2017, the total number of CSeries orders is expected to rise to 403 by the end of the year, in addition to the 115 commitments, 90 options and 18 purchase rights already held.
On May 28, 2018, Air Baltic announced an order for 30 CS300, 15 options and 15 purchase rights.
Boeing dumping petition
On 28 April 2016, Bombardier Aerospace sold 75 CSeries CS100 firmly plus 50 options to Delta Air Lines. On 27 April 2017, Boeing filed a petition for dumping them at $19.6m each, below their $33.2m production cost.
On 9 June 2017, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) found the US industry could be threatened. On 26 September, the US Department of Commerce (DoC) observed subsidies of 220% and will collect deposits based on these. It will add a 80% preliminary anti-dumping duty on top, resulting in a total duty of 300%. The DoC announced its final ruling, a total duty of 292%, on 20 December. On 10 January 2018, the Canadian government filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the USA.
On 26 January 2018, the USITC four commissioners unanimously determined the U.S. industry is not threatened and no duty orders will be issued, overturning the imposed duties. The Commission public report was made available by February 2018. On March 22, Boeing declined to appeal the ruling.
Specifications
See also
Related development
- Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000
- Comac C919 (agreement between Comac and Bombardier for program commonalities)
- Irkut MC-21 (agreement between Irkut and Bombardier for joint customer support)
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Airbus A320neo family
- Irkut MC-21
- Boeing 737 MAX
- Embraer E-Jets/E-Jets E2
- Sukhoi Superjet 100/130
Related lists
- List of civil aircraft
- List of jet airliners
References
External links
- Official website
- "CSeries production list and orders". ABCDlist.
- "CS100 Airport planning publication" (PDF). Bombardier. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2017.
- "CS300 Airport planning publication" (PDF). Bombardier. 15 Mar 2018.
- Ross Marowits (20 February 2015). "Larger Bombardier CSeries set for first flight next week in Mirabel". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press.
- Bjorn Fehrm (9 November 2016). "Flying the CSeries". Leeham News.
- Mike Gerzanics (11 November 2016). "Flight Test: We put Bombardier's CSeries through its paces". Flight Global.
- Fred George (3 February 2017). "Pilot Report: Bombardier's C Series Sets New Standard". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- Oleksandr Laneckij (17 October 2017). "New Aircraft As A Basis For Efficiency - Interview With CEO Of airBaltic". Center for transport strategies.
Source of article : Wikipedia
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