Photo Credit: Bombardier
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. ordered 40 Bombardier CS300 airliners, with options for an additional 40 airplanes. The CS300 regional jets are valued at $3.06 billion. Republic’s order is the largest to date for Bombardier’s CSeries program.
Including options, this brings the total potential value of the order to $6.34 billion, however that is without manufacturer discounts. Typically, air carriers receive larger discounts based on the quantity purchased. Currently, the CSeries has an order count of 90 (including the CS100/ER) – Republic has the largest order to date. Notably, Germany’s Lufthansa ordered 30 CS100s and has options for an additional 30.
“The CSeries aircraft program is a significant part of Bombardier’s future, and we’re delighted that Republic Airways will be part of it,” Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Gary Scott said in the release. “This major CSeries aircraft order from our first North American customer reflects the confidence Republic Airways has in Bombardier’s ability to deliver a game-changing aircraft and to service the airline’s requirements.”
The Bombardier CS300 carries 120-145 passengers, depending on configuration, and is a competitor to other regional jet makers, like Embraer and their E-jets series, as well as larger manufacturers like Boeing (737 series) and Airbus (A32X). It has a range of 2,200 nautical miles, and, outfitted with 2 Pratt & Whitney PW1500Gs, the aircraft operates at a cruise speed of Mach 0.82.
Similar to Boeing’s 787 and Airbus’s A350, the CSeries features a more extensive use of composite materials; 70% advanced materials comprising of: 46% composite materials and 24% aluminum-lithium. Bombardier expects the composites to lower seat-mile costs by 15% and reduce maintenance costs.
The CSeries is expected lower the cabin altitude for passenger comfort, incorporate larger windows, and is expected to offer more room in terms of overhead baggage space for customers.
The CSeries is scheduled to enter service in 2013.
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