Air France actively considering Bombardier's new CSeries jets

31 Jul 2008

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With Lufthansa already signed up as launch customer,  Bombardier Inc. may land another high profile airline as a customer for its new CSeries family of jets. Air France said it is actively considering the aircraft, along with mid-haul planes from Boeing Co and Airbus, for its medium-range and regional lines.

"As part of our regional and medium-haul fleet renewal programme, Air France is closely following developments in the Bombardier CSeries programme, as well as its competitors' projects," airline spokesperson Brigitte Barrand.

Industry experts have said previously that the 110-130 seat CSeries, which offers 20 per cent lower operating costs, is a good fit for Air France. The carrier's regional subsidiary, Brit Air, is also the launch customer for Bombardier's new 100-seat CRJ1000, with eight firm orders.

A Bombardier spokesperson refused to confirm whether or not the carrier was in talks with the Montreal-based manufacturer. "We're in discussions with airlines around the world," she said.

Air France has also expressed a desire to upgrade some of its ageing A320 family aircraft, for which it was the launch customer in the late '80s. Air France CEO, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, has recently spoken on the need for Airbus and Boeing to speed up the renewal programmes of their A320 and B737 family of aircraft.

The carrier is hoping to cut operating costs for the medium-haul sector, similar to what it has achieved in the long-haul sector. It's medium-haul fleet consists of 123-206 seat A320 family aircraft.

Both Airbus and Boeing however have relegated such an upgrade programme to the backburner.

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