Bombardier (TSE:BBD.B) is hoping its C-Series airliner will be a big hit as it made its first appearance at an international exhibition.
The Canadian manufacturer has unveiled the CS100 and CS300 airliners at the Paris Air Show, the world’s most famous aerospace and defense gathering, which opened today at the French capital’s Le Bourget airport.
Bombardier is hoping to the kind of attract attention that translates to sales as the two planes are scheduled to perform flying demonstrations on this occasion. Bombardier’s commercial aircraft division’s new president, Fred Cromer, said in a statement that the C-Series "has superior performance to its original targets."
Since first introduced, Bombardier has increased the maximum takeoff weight (the maximum weight at which the pilot is allowed to attempt to take off) by over two metric tons for both the CS100 and CS100. This improves structural limits, giving airlines greater flexibility by increasing either the payload or range of the airplane.
Fuel consumption is also better than expected. Bombardier and claims over 20% higher fuel efficiency compared to other similar aircraft-in production, “and more than 10% compared to re-engined aircraft."
Both planes should be certified with higher range than first announced. The CS300 is now able to cover a distance of 6,112 km., which is 650 km longer than originally planned while the CS100 has gained 278 km, for a total of 5741 km.
While airlines will appreciate the CS series’ versatility and operational economics, The sound level of the C-Series is also lower than expected. Its noise footprint on takeoff is thus up to 20 effective perceived decibels (EPNdB) below US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Chapter-4 standards.
This should be very useful in discussions with companies such as Porter Airlines, subject to very significant noise restrictions at Billy Bishop Toronto. A CS-series airliner would allow Porter to open routes to several long distance destinations – London, UK would be within reach. Indeed, in 2011, A British venture called Odyssey Airlines proposed to use the CS on an all-business class service from London to New York.
Some of the technological advances include engines also designed and manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada, part of the United Technologies Group (NYSE:UTX).
The PW1000G engines, known feature a novel ‘geared turbofan’ (GTF) configuration that helps to reduce noise, fuel burn and emissions. This technology will make it easier for Bombardier to sell the C-series to airlines planning to use smaller airports located closer to city centers – such as the Toronto Island airport for example.
To date, Bombardier has recorded orders and commitments affecting 603 C-Series airliners, including 243 firm orders, including from Lufthansa (for Swiss Airlines), Galaxy Airlines, Gulf Air and Korean Air among others. Nevertheless, delays have raised production costs from US$3.4 billion to US$ 5.5 billion, and while fears of a C-series program write-down have dissipated, the order book is not filling as fast as expected.
At Le Bourget, Bombardier is also expected to confirm, or at least offer more details, its reported intention to add a third, 180 passenger version of it’s the C-series twinjet.
Such an aircraft, which could be designated CS 500, would be the first by Bombardier to compete against the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 families, the most popular airliners in the world.
The current C-series offerings range from 125 seats to 160 seats, just shy of the smallest Boeing or Airbus models.
The CS100 is still undergoing flight tests, but Bombardier expects to receive full certification from regulators by the end of this year, allowing the Montreal based aircraft manufacturer to start selling and delivering this model in the middle of 2016, which is two and half years behind schedule. The CS300 should follow six months later.
Shares of Bombardier were trading 2.6% higher on Monday in Toronto.