Report darkens Bombardier C Series hopes - The Globe and Mail
Quote:
...The airlines surveyed have a favourable view of the plane and the 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption that Bombardier is promising, but are wary of the costs of adding a new type of aircraft to their fleets, concerned about price, and cautious about whether the C Series will meet its performance targets and be ready for delivery in 2013...
...It was in the running for a Delta Air Lines Inc. order for 100 planes, but Delta said this week that it is putting off an order for planes seating between 100 and 150 passengers after reaching a deal with Boeing earlier this summer to buy 100 larger narrow-bodied airplanes. The Delta delay underscores how airlines are cautious about the plane, in part because they’re worried about the health of the U.S. and European economies...
Maybe without the orders they want and cash to play with BBD will instead drive this aircraft harder and faster towards being on time and the performer they promised. It's hard now but maybe it'll work out for them in the long run because of the simple axiom you can't waste money you never had unless you're the government.
Here is a picture of the C-Series if anyone doesn't remember what it's going to look like...
Republic? Who are they? Oh wait a minute... aren't they that conglomeration of airlines that flies for us and runs our competitor Frontier all under the same roof and management team? And pilot seniority list? And HR and recruiting departments? And so on...