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Bombardier Aerospace has announced that an African airline and existing Bombardier customer, who wishes to remain unidentified at this time, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire five CSeries airliners.
Based on list pricing, a firm order for five CSeries aircraft would be valued at approximately $365 million US.
“Our customer faces challenging operational environments and needs excellent range for hot-and-high performance as they expand into new and growing markets,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The exceptional fuel efficiency and widebody passenger comfort that only the CSeries aircraft can provide in an airplane of its size were key factors in our customer’s decision to select the CSeries in a region where fuel prices are quite high.”
“The growing diversity of operators in both our traditional and emerging markets who are centering business cases around the use of the CSeries jetliners is a testament to the aircraft’s unmatched flexibility and outstanding operational efficiencies,” added Mr. Arcamone. “Of course, we are also delighted that the CSeries aircraft program has reached 500 orders and commitments.”
“Africa’s expansive land mass and its propensity for solid growth makes the CSeries aircraft ideal for this market and that’s why the Middle East and Africa region boasts the largest number of operators – more than any other region – selecting the CSeries aircraft,” said Ray Jones, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Asset Management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.
“The complementary success stories of the Q400 and CRJ family of aircraft in the region make these Bombardier regional aircraft perfect companions to CSeries aircraft operations. We are confident that Bombardier and the CSeries family of aircraft are ideally positioned to meet the demand for 100- to 149-seat aircraft in Africa, which is being driven by economic growth, a demographic boom, increasing urbanization and the emergence of a middle class.”
The fleet of Bombardier commercial aircraft in Africa and the Middle East is steadily growing with more than 200 Q-Series turboprops, CRJ regional jets and CSeries airliners now in service with, or on firm order from, approximately 50 customers and operators in the region.
In the Middle East and Africa, service locations for Bombardier commercial aircraft operators include regional support offices and parts depots in Johannesburg, South Africa and Dubai, UAE. The offices coordinate the efforts of field service representatives and customer support account managers dedicated to the region, all backed by 24/7 technical help desks.
About CSeries aircraft
Bombardier is creating the future with its CSeries aircraft – the only 100 per cent new family of airliners specifically designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market. Benefitting from a clean-sheet design that includes leading-edge technology and systems integration, advanced materials and latest-generation aerodynamics, the CSeries aircraft offer a 15 per cent(i) cash operating cost advantage, a 20 per cent fuel burn advantage, exceptional operational flexibility, widebody comfort and an unmatched environmental and noise footprint.
The CS100 aircraft offers unmatched flexibility for many airline business models and is an ideal solution for hot-and-high and city-centre airport operations.
The CS300 aircraft offers the best seat-mile costs in its category, making it the most profitable solution for mid-sized markets with up to 150 passengers per flight, and ideal for a range of routes from short-haul to longer transcontinental markets.
Including the LOI announced today, Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 500 CSeries aircraft, which include firm orders for 203 CSeries airliners.
