Bombardier’s visit to the Paris Air Show has proved fruitful, with large orders placed for both its CSeries and Global Business aircraft.
Most notably, with an order of up to 30 CS300 aircraft, Korean Air will become the new jet’s launch customer in Asia.
Korean Air, South Korea’s flagship airline, signed an agreement to acquire 10 Bombardier CS300 aircraft, with an additional 10 options and 10 purchase rights. The two companies signed a letter of intent following several months of negotiations, and made the announcement at the show today.
Korean Air currently operates a fleet of 136 passenger and cargo jet aircraft to 112 cities in 39 countries.
Designed for the 100- to 149-seat market, the CSeries aircraft will enter into service in 2014.
Gary R. Scott, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, commented: “This is our first CSeries aircraft customer in Asia and signals the aircraft program’s entry into the fast growing Asia-Pacific market. Korean Air is one of the world’s most prestigious airlines, and we are extremely proud that it has selected the CSeries aircraft to meet its route expansion requirements.”
He added: “Our list of customers continues to grow and now covers the Asian, European and North American markets, a testament to the high value and operating flexibility of the CSeriesaircraft program.”
Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Bombardier’s revenues for the fiscal year ending January 31 2011 were $17.7 billion.
