Ten years ago, Bombardier shifted away from regional aircraft when it launched the CSeries, a move executives said would enable it to tap into a larger-aircraft market they viewed as otherwise ignored.
But with the transfer of the CSeries to Airbus planned for 1 July, Bombardier returns to familiar ground, focusing again on the regional aircraft that defined the company before the CSeries.
Bombardier's executives describe the transition as an opportunity, citing rising demand for regional aircraft and a recent uptick in Q400 sales. They insist their CRJs, even without engine upgrades, remain efficient and competitive – particularly in the USA.
"With the CSeries moving to Airbus control – that does free up our ability to re-energise, refocus on the regional market," says Bombardier president of commercial aircraft Fred Cromer. "We are in transition mode."
Speaking to reporters during a press event at Mirabel International airport in Quebec, Cromer says Bombardier never ignored regional aircraft while it developed the CSeries. But the high-profile CSeries programme did overshadow the company's regional aircraft product improvements and sales successes, he says.
Cromer aims now to highlight that progress.
"Behind the scenes, we have been equally focused on our regional jet programme," Cromer says. "The product we are producing today is a very different product than we produced years ago."
The company estimates airlines worldwide will need 5,750 aircraft in the 60- to 100-seat range in the next 20 years, with North American carriers set to take the lion's share in the form of 1,400 aircraft, according to Bombardier's most recent fleet forecast.
"I think we should be targeting 50% [of that market]," Cromer says.
27/06/18 Jon Hemmerdinger/Flight Global
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But with the transfer of the CSeries to Airbus planned for 1 July, Bombardier returns to familiar ground, focusing again on the regional aircraft that defined the company before the CSeries.
Bombardier's executives describe the transition as an opportunity, citing rising demand for regional aircraft and a recent uptick in Q400 sales. They insist their CRJs, even without engine upgrades, remain efficient and competitive – particularly in the USA.
"With the CSeries moving to Airbus control – that does free up our ability to re-energise, refocus on the regional market," says Bombardier president of commercial aircraft Fred Cromer. "We are in transition mode."
Speaking to reporters during a press event at Mirabel International airport in Quebec, Cromer says Bombardier never ignored regional aircraft while it developed the CSeries. But the high-profile CSeries programme did overshadow the company's regional aircraft product improvements and sales successes, he says.
Cromer aims now to highlight that progress.
"Behind the scenes, we have been equally focused on our regional jet programme," Cromer says. "The product we are producing today is a very different product than we produced years ago."
The company estimates airlines worldwide will need 5,750 aircraft in the 60- to 100-seat range in the next 20 years, with North American carriers set to take the lion's share in the form of 1,400 aircraft, according to Bombardier's most recent fleet forecast.
"I think we should be targeting 50% [of that market]," Cromer says.
27/06/18 Jon Hemmerdinger/Flight Global
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