Bombardier boost for Belfast

Northern Ireland’s aerospace industry has received a significant boost with the announcement from Bombardier that it will design and manufacture wings for the new CSeries passenger aircraft in Belfast.

Bombardier announced yesterday at the Farnborough International Airshow that it is to go ahead with the production of the CSeries family of aircraft and that launch-customer Lufthansa has already signed a letter of interest for up to 60 aircraft, including 30 options.

The approximate list price of each aircraft is $46.7m and entry into service is scheduled for 2013.

‘With the latest in system technologies and aerodynamics, the CSeries family of aircraft will revolutionise the economics and network strategies for airline operations in the 100- to 149-seat commercial market.’ said Pierre Beaudoin, president and chief executive officer, Bombardier.

‘The CSeries family offers the greenest single-aisle aircraft in its class,’ added Gary Scott, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. ‘These game-changing aircraft emit up to 20 per cent less CO₂ and up to 50 per cent less NOx, fly four times quieter, and deliver dramatic energy savings – up to 20 per cent fuel burn advantage as well as up to 15 per cent improved cash operating costs versus current in-production aircraft of similar size. The CSeries aircraft will set a new benchmark in the industry, consuming as little as two litres of fuel per passenger per 100km in its more dense seating layouts.’