Neelam Mathews

Congestion at Asia’s metropolitan airports has led to a trend toward opening regional hubs and opportunities for Bombardier’s C Series narrowbodies, the only single-aisle aircraft specifically designed to serve the 100- to 150-seat market, the company claims. On October 5 Bombardier completed a tour of the CS300 that started in Narita, Japan, and proceeded to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and New Delhi—its major target markets—with a static demonstration to regulators, airlines and prospective suppliers.

 


India’s regional connectivity scheme and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Open Skies policy have encouraged the opening of routes between smaller cities and secondary hubs with shorter airstrips and smaller volumes of passengers. “This is the perfect aircraft in the cost per seat, range and capability for new regional routes on airstrips as short as 1,400 meters [4,600 feet],” said Bombardier Commercial Aircraft vice president of sales for Asia-Pacific Francois Cognard in an interview with AIN. “Many airlines open routes and close because the planes are too large,” he explained.

 


Airlines dropped more than 4,000 routes last year worldwide because of the wrong choice of aircraft, said Cognard. Bombardier is now considering taking the C Series to Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Singapore.

 


Korean Air, Bombardier’s third customer after Swiss and Air Baltic, serves as the Asian launch customer after placing firm orders for 10 CS300s set for delivery this fall. Indian budget carrier SpiceJet became the launch customer of the extra-capacity, 90-Seat Q400 at the end of September, placing a firm order for 25 of the turboprops and bringing its total firm order count to more than 600.

 


“This plane can do what no others can do since it is the right size,”&nbsp;said Cognard of the C Series. For instance, Cognard said Boeing did not even compete on the 75-aircraft CS100 deal with Delta Air Lines, which now <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2017-10-06/us-hits-bombardier-new-c-series-duties">stands subject to a 300-percent tariff</a> in the U.S. following Boeing’s dumping complaint. “We feel this to be a misuse of trade laws,” he noted.

 


Bombardier in its 2017 to 2036 market forecast projects airlines in South Asia, which includes India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, to take delivery of 500 aircraft in the 60-to 150-seat segment.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Bombardier CS300 Stops at Delhi during Asian Tour

Canadian manufacturer sees big potential for narrowbody in capacity-constrained India

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft