Bombardier to seek sales for new model, programme not official

Airline Industry Information, March 16, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer, has said that it will offer customers a new 110- to 130-seat aircraft.

The company has not however yet officially launched the development programme, which has an estimated cost of about USD2bn. Board approval to look for sales for the new C Series aircraft could see the company actually launching the development, Bombardier said.

According to Reuters, Bombardier is hoping to be able to launch the programme formally in the next couple of months, with the first flight in 2008 and the new aircraft entering service in 2010.

Analysts are reportedly expecting the manufacturer to showcase the aircraft, which is a new model rather than a version of its current regional aircraft model, at the Paris Air Show in June this year.

Separately, Brazil's Embraer has said that it could petition the country's government to file a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if the Canadian government decides to provide financial aid for the development of the new aircraft.

The governments of Canada and Quebec are reportedly expected to provide about USD700m towards the costs of the development programme.

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