Hofmann's recommendations

The first CS100 for Swiss on approach

700394

[Translate to en:] Das Bombardier Werk in Montreal, wo gegenwärtig das modernste Regional-Flugzeug der Welt gebaut wird: Die CS100.

700394

[Translate to en:] Die neue CS100 von Bombardier am Flughafen Montreal

700394

[Translate to en:] ... und in der Luft

The first CS100 from Bombardier will soon be arriving in Zurich. An inspection in Montreal shows that everything is going according to plan.

At the end of June, the first Bombardier Regional Jet CS100 will finally be ready for service from mid-July. What is special about this aircraft is not only its extremely economical performance and massive noise reduction: it is also the first aircraft - in the 130 to 160-seat segment - to be completely redesigned in 30 years.

Of course, the new jet should have been delivered to Swiss two years ago. But there have been repeated delays. This makes the introduction into flight operations all the more exciting. Before a press conference on the latest type of commercial aircraft takes place in Zurich on July 6, Connoisseur Circle was able to chat with President Commercial Aircraft Fred Cromer during a visit to the Bombardier factory in Montreal. Cromer hopes that with Swiss, the orders received from Delta Air Lines, AirBaltic and soon also from Air Canada, even more customers will opt for this new generation of commercial aircraft. "But now is also the time when many airlines will be watching us to see how the CS100 series performs in everyday flight operations. We are very focused on making this entry into service a successful one." Cromer knows that with the current low fuel prices, some airlines are postponing their fleet decisions for a year or two. "Such decisions are planning for a long time. But that's where our jet comes in, because the CSeries is a completely new aircraft and not somehow an improved or modified one. We should be successful with it."

Swiss has ordered a total of 30 aircraft from Bombardier; up to 10 of these, all CS100s with 125 seats, are to be based in Kloten by the end of January. A further 10 larger CS300 aircraft are then to be delivered. The configuration of the last 10 aircraft will be decided at a later date. The service will start on July 15 from Zurich to Paris and other European cities. Bombardier itself plans to increase production to 35 CSeries aircraft in 2017, 60 in 2018 and 100 to 120 aircraft in 2020.

Text: Kurt Hofmann