64 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION DECEMBER 2017B
ombardier’s single-aisle, twinjet
C Series small airliner is as
popular with passengers as it
has been lukewarmly received
by airlines, with an all-new
cabin, 2-3 configuration and
18-inch wide seats stretching to 19-inch
in the middle seat of three making it
one of the most pleasant ways to fly.
“It’s a cute little airplane,” said
Airbus sales chief John Leahy of the
Bombardier C Series in Hamburg last
year, when few people would have
imagined that the European airframer
would take over the Canadian aircraft
program, essentially for free, in a move
that shook the world of commercial
aviation like few others.
While Bombardier was rumoured
for some years to be keen to refocus on
its non-commercial aviation business,
the key impetus for the decision is a
series of protectionist decisions by the
United States government in favour
of Boeing, as the result of a trade
complaint that, initially, seemed like
all the others that end up all sound and
fury, but signifying nothing. A littlelaunch aid here, a little investment
incentive there, a big discount for early
or large orders over there: it’s all part
of the cut and thrust of commercial
aircraft manufacturing, and is frankly
nothing new to commercial aviation.
In this case, however, the US
Department of Commerce levied
preliminary duties bringing the total
tariff to 300 per cent, sinking a hole in
the side of the C Series reaching the
US market.
Boeing’s complaint has largely
received opprobrium from the industry,
including from large airline customers,
not least since Boeing does not offer
a competing product in the C Series’
size category, and itself receives
governmental incentives and subsidies- like many, if not almost all, large
manufacturers.
But the key problem for Bombardier
was its largest single order, which
comprised 75 firm aircraft, from Delta
Air Lines in 2016. Without the ability
to deliver these aircraft, the future of
the C Series seemed in doubt.
Enter Airbus.
The C Series moves from “cute little
airplane” to grownup member of the
Airbus family
“Airbus SE and Bombardier Inc. are to
become partners on the C Series aircraft
program,” announced the European
airframer just minutes before it entered
its regulatory silent period prior to its
results announcement – a silent period,
which combined with French holidays,
prevented Airbus from commenting
with more than a brief statement to
Australian Aviation.
The program will be managed
by the C Series Aircraft Limited
Partnership (CSALP), which will, at
closing, be controlled 50.01 per cent by
Airbus, 31 per cent by Bombardier, and
19 per cent by public investment arm
Investissement Québec.
“CSALP’s headquarters and primary
assembly line and related functions will
remain in Québec, with the support
of Airbus’s global reach and scale.
Airbus’s global industrial footprint
will expand with the Final Assembly
Line in Canada and additional
C Series production at Airbus’sMy enemy’s enemy
WRITER: JOHN WALTONAirbus takes over Bombardier’s “cute little airplane”
C Series after Boeing spat
This time, the
stars were
aligned.
FRANÇOIS COGNARDAirbus and Bombardier have
joined forces.AIRBUS