Commercial aircraft OEM Bombardier Inc. reduced its forecast total for 2016 deliveries of the new C Series aircraft – a twin-engine, medium-range jet developed for the single-aisle aircraft market — citing delays in the availability of Pratt & Whitney’s PW1500G engines. As a result of the delay, Bombardier now expects 2016 revenues to be “close to the lower end of the $16.5 to $17.5 billion revenue guidance range.”
The Montreal-based manufacturer has already delivered the first two CS100 aircraft to Lufthansa’s SWISS subsidiary, and a third jet is due for delivery there next month. But, in total Bombardier now expects to deliver just seven of the aircraft this year, not 15 as previously expected.
The first of the larger, CS300 variant is on track to be delivered to airBaltic later this year. The CS100 is a 110-seat model, and the CS300 has 135 seats.
The C Series is meant to compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus A320 programs, but has endured its own delays in development. Bombardier has logged significant new production orders for the aircraft from Air Canada and Delta, and it lists over 300 C Series firm orders now. With options and commitments that figure could rise to 800 aircraft.
Each C Series jet is powered by a set of Pratt & Whitney PurePower® PW1500G geared turbofan engines.
Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G is a high-bypass, geared turbofan engine that is the exclusive engine option for the Bombardier C Series. It’s also the engine for the Airbus A320neo, Embraer’s new E-Jet E2, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, and the Irkut MC-21 aircraft. Airbus experienced delivery delays for its PW1500Gs earlier this year, though the Bombardier delay reportedly is unrelated.
A specific cause for the delays has not been described by either Bombardier nor its supplier. A Pratt & Whitney statement indicated there has been "significant headway" in its supply chain but confirmed "some pressure on new engine deliveries" (in 2016.)
“We are very pleased with the performance of the C Series during its entry-into-service with our launch customer SWISS,” stated Fred Cromer, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president. “The aircraft is meeting all expectations and clearly demonstrating that it is the best performing and most efficient aircraft in the 100- to 150-seat class.”
Cromer added that the PW1500G is “performing very well in service,” and emphasized that Bombardier is “working very closely with Pratt & Whitney to quickly address this supplier ramp-up issue, and to ensure we have a strong supplier base to support our long-term growth objectives.”
Cromer also stated that Bombardier is confident of its C-Series production ramp-up plan, including the goal of delivering 90-120 aircraft per year by 2020.
