TOMORROWS TRANSPORTATION NEWS TODAY!
Alaska Air Group would be an ideal buyer and operator of Embraer’s new E2 regional jet, the Brazilian jet maker’s top airplane salesman said.
Embraer Commercial Aircraft’s vice president of marketing, rodrigo Silva e Souza, made the remarks as he spoke to reporters at Embraer’s facility at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
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Embraer Pitches New E2 Regional Jet
* Sees demand for at least 3,000 of the planes over 20 years
* Says move will be positive for jobs in Quebec
* Broadens its battle with Boeing to small passenger jets (Adds potential order, background)
TOULOUSE, France, July 10 (Reuters) – Airbus gave its newly acquired Canadian CSeries jet a new name and looked close to winning an inaugural order on Tuesday as it prepares to broaden its battle with Boeing for jet sales.
The European firm said it was rebranding the plane as the A220, slotting it just under its longstanding A300 portfolio which stretches from the 124-seat A319 to the 544-seat A380.
Airbus expects to sell a “double-digit” number of the jets that have 110-130 seats this year and sees demand for at least 3,000 of them over 20 years, said CSeries sales chief David Dufrenois.
“I don’t think it will be very long before we see the first results on the market,” said Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Eric Schulz.
The CSeries has been locked in a fierce competition for a deal to supply jets to U.S. carrier JetBlue and is in poll position to win as Airbus also offers more attractive delivery positions on its larger planes, industry sources said.
Airbus and JetBlue declined comment.
The rebranding seals the takeover of one of Canada’s most visible industrial projects and ends Bombardier’s efforts to go it alone in the mainline jet market against larger rivals.
Airbus officials stressed it would be positive for jobs in Quebec where the lightweight jet is built.
The 110-seat and 130-seat models, previously known as CS100 and CS300, will be known as A220-100 and A220-300 respectively.
A deal for Airbus to take majority control of the loss-making Montreal-based aircraft programme with Bombardier and Quebec as minority partners closed on July 1.
The move also sets the stage for a broader confrontation with Boeing, which last week announced a tentative deal to take over the commercial unit of Bombardier’s competitor Embraer.
Until now the two plane giants have focused mainly on planes starting at 150 seats and largely ignored the niche below their single-aisle jets.
Adding the smaller models to their portfolios will broaden the revenue base of each company and prevent a key slice of Western know-how reaching potential competitor China, which had held talks to buy the CSeries, people involved in the deal said.
The change of identity came in a slick branding ceremony as the Canadian-developed passenger jet performed a flypast in searing heat over Airbus’s Toulouse facilities, with executives papering over past differences over prospects for the jet.
Airbus said it expected total demand for 7,000 planes in its category over 20 years, including its own A319.
(Reporting by Tim Hepher Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Edmund Blair)
Flying Frontier Airlines from Austin to Las Vegas Tuesday was my first experience on the US based low cost carrier. I had originally booked this trip on Southwest Airlines, but decided to use those funds for a future trip. The Frontier flight times were a better match for my schedule, and I had a free round trip ticket available from using my Frontier Airlines MasterCard. This trip was the first one I have taken where I was required to actually pay for a checked bag, or carry on. Since I had to pay one way or another for my luggage, I decided to just check the biggest bag I had at a cost of $30 each way. Add $12 each way for an assigned aisle seat and $11.20 in taxes, and my free ticket cost me a total of $95.20. When I arrived at the Frontier ticket counter at the Austin Bergstrom Airport, there was only 1 person in front of me. I was able to quickly get my baggage tagged, and then dropped it off at the security scanner. I then proceeded through the security line, which was the usual adventure. I got “massaged” by the security guy post body scanner, and my laptop got pulled aside and tested for explosives. Usually my wife is the one that gets the special treatment, but this time I guess it was my turn.
The Airbus A319 arrived at the gate on time, and we were able to board the aircraft in a timely manner. My first impression when I got to my assigned seat was what the heck? This was the cheapest airline seat I have ever seen in my life. It was paper thin, stiff, and non reclinable. The tray table was the size of an envelope, and barely capable of fitting a can of soda and a cup. It was a very uncomfortable 2 hour and forty minute flight, to say the least. I’m definitely not looking forward to my return flight. I do not think I will be Flying Frontier Airlines again anytime soon. If I do, I’ll be sure to pick the upgraded seat, even though those are located in the front 3 rows. My preference is to seat in the rear of the aircraft, even though I regret it when time to get off the plane.
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