First African Operator and Existing Commercial Aircraft Customer Signs Letter of Intent for Five Bombardier CSeries Airliners
- First customer in Africa signs Letter of Intent; brings CSeries aircraft orders and commitments to 500 aircraft
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jul 16, 2014) - Farnborough International Airshow - Bombardier Aerospace announced today 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* 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.
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.
Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, we posted revenues of $18.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier .
Notes to editors
Images of CSeries aircraft are posted with this news release at www.bombardier.com . Additional images and videos of CSeries aircraft are available in the CSeries Hub at cseries.com . B-roll is available at bcamediafootage.com .
Please visit Bombardier's Web site dedicated to its upcoming events at the Farnborough International Airshow at airshows.bombardier.com .
Follow @ Bombardier_Aero on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier Aerospace.
* The CSeries aircraft are in the development phase. All data and specifications are estimates, subject to changes in family strategy, branding, capacity and performance during the development, manufacture and certification process. All performance references have been estimated based on a 500-nm North American operating environment and comparisons are to in-production aircraft.
Bombardier, CS100, CS300, CSeries and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
For information
Marc Duchesne
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
+1-416-375-3030
marc.duchesne@aero.bombardier.com
www.bombardier.com
