The news from Bombardier has people trying hard to figure out who this is. It is not clear what is meant by a “new customer”; is this new to C Series or new to Bombardier?
Here is a poll of the EU-based brands we think might be runners, i.e. have enough aircraft between 100-135 seats. We added “Other” in case you think its someone else.
PS If you select “Other” please add your suggestion in the comments section below.
[poll id=”7″]
Jet2
https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Jet2
Reasonable suggestion
TAP Portugal, a lot of old A319(close to 20 year old)
I voted for BA, maybe IAG altogether.
– There has been a lot of smoke around this potential order in recent months, including from Aer Lingus. And BBD has a good relationship with Iberia, which operates the CRJ-900 and the CRJ-1000.
– Add to that the fact that the CS100 has received its certification for LCY (and apprently, this mysterious order is for both, the CS100 and the CS300 models).
– And finally pitch in some rumors of political pressures from Theresa May on BA to “make the right decision”, following Boeing’s ridiculous complaint against BBD.
That being said, I would not bet the farm on my prediction…
Meridiana Airlines and its new owner Qatar. Al Baker, its president has already stressed that he wants to replace Alitalia as the first national carrier and he wants to operate quickly, massively. It is worth starting quickly so this company with 787, A330 and 737 MAX, but it will not be able to receive all these 737 quickly. However, he pledged to the public authorities to connect together first Italian cities, then with European cities, etc. Al Baker needs advertising and he can do it in Dubai in about ten days. There are not many ways to beat Easy Jet and Ryanair with a small carrier that must be updated with other things that CSeries to print profits within an hour. In addition, Meridiana will be a laboratory for Al Baker who plans in the medium term to launch a new subsidiary in India with the CSeries. Finally, note that Qatar is a shareholder of IAG, Latam, and is about to take a stake in Royal Air Maroc, a company that received the visit of a Bombardier aircraft recently …
BCA previously concealed CRJ1000 sales to Air Nostrum under “unnamed” LOIs
Air France/KLM is out of this Pool. Who’s next?
https://www.journal-aviation.com/actualites/39415-air-france-klm-prepare-le-renouvellement-de-sa-flotte-moyen-courrier