|
Bombardier Inc. is the world's third- largest maker of commercial aircraft. In the last two decades Bombardier was transformed from a small Quebec snowmobile maker into an aircraft maker and the world's top train manufacturer. Bombardier remains controlled by the family of late founder Joseph-Armand Bombardier.
Next year, the company may revive its $2.1 billion C Series aircraft as potential customers exit bankruptcy protection. The Montreal-based company expects to spend another $20 million on the plane this fiscal year to devise a plan that may include outside partners and will review the project's status within a year. In order to win orders and sign up local partners, the company may consider fabricating parts of the plane in countries such as China.
The C Series plane allows the company to play globally because it can fly 3,000 nautical miles and is competitive on a cost-per-seat basis. Abandoning the C Series would leave Bombardier out of the growing market for larger aircraft as demand shrinks for 50- to 90-seat planes. Bigger competitors Airbus SAS and Boeing Co. had record orders in 2005, led by their A320 and 737 jets, potential rivals to the C Series.
The company wants to book firm orders for 50 to 100 aircraft before officially deciding to build the C Series, originally intended for first delivery in 2010. About 1,000 of the planes would have to be sold to make a profit.
www.bombardier.com
|
