Porter Airlines Places Conditional Order for Up to 30 Bombardier CS100s

Porter Airlines has signed a conditional purchase agreement for 12 Bombardier CS100 airliners, with options for an additional 18 CS100s.

The agreement also includes purchase rights on six Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft.

On April 10, 2013, Canada’s Porter Airlines announced a conditional order for 12 Bombardier CS100s, along with options on another 18 and purchase rights on six Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprops. The CS100s would be the first turbofan-powered aircraft operated by Porter

In making the announcement at Porter Airlines’ home base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Bombardier Aerospace and Porter Airlines disclosed Porter was the unidentified, Americas-based customer that signed a letter of intent (LOI) for CS100 aircraft as announced by Bombardier in December 2012.

While making the April 10 announcement of Porter Airlines’ conditional order, Bombardier Aerospace and Porter also unveiled the Bombardier CSeries flight deck and cabin demonstrator, which will be on private display at Porter’s facility during the month of April 2013.

Based on the list price of the Bombardier CS100, the manufacturer says a firm-order contract would be valued at approximately US$870 million and could increase to $2.08 billion should Porter also convert the 18 options to firm orders.

Should Porter also exercise its six purchase rights for six Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, the contract value would increase to $2.29 billion. Porter, currently an all-turboprop airline, now flies 26 Bombardier Q400s and Q400 NextGens: the CS100s would be its first jet aircraft.

Porter Airlines’ main hub at Toronto Billy Bishop City Airport is extremely close to downtown Toronto. The airport lies on Toronto Island, just 100 yards offshore in Lake Ontario, and can be reached from the mainland by a frequently operating passenger and car ferry or (soon) by a passenger tunnel

“Following an in-depth analysis of existing and re-engined aircraft, we have selected the all-new CS100 airliner for its flexibility and suitability for urban operations, including outstanding fuel-efficiency and short airfield performance, as well as reduced sound and emissions,” said Robert Deluce, president and chief executive officer of Porter Airlines.

“The aircraft fits perfectly into our business plans and growth strategy and we are also proud to be the Canadian launch customer for Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft,” Deluce added. “We look forward to expanding our network with an all-Bombardier fleet of CS100 jetliners and Q400 turboprops – promoting greener, quieter flying.”

“The worldwide momentum of interest for the CSeries aircraft program continues to grow and we are pleased that customers in both our traditional and growth markets are exploring opportunities and centering business cases around the use of Bombardier’s CSeries jetliners and pairing them with their Q400 aircraft operation,” said Mike Arcamone, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“We’re delighted about this agreement between Porter Airlines and Bombardier as it represents the first Canadian operator to select the PurePower family of engines and also extends the strong relationship amongst Porter, Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney,” said Todd Kallman, president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines.

The CS100 is the shorter of the two initial versions of the Bombardier CSeries family to be designed and built by the Canadian manufacturer. The CS100 is optimized to carry 100 to 125 passengers, while the longer CS300 is optimized to carry from 126 to 149 passengers

“In addition to double-digit reductions in fuel consumption and engine operating cost, our PurePower engine generates a noise footprint that is up to four times smaller than today’s jet engine-powered aircraft, which benefits both travelers and airport communities,” Kallman added.

The first Bombardier CSeries flight test vehicle (FTV1, a CS100) is in its final stages of build and is progressing towards the transfer to the flight-test phase following the completion of the full powering up of the main electrical distribution system in March 2013, according to Bombardier.

Bombardier Aerospace adds that the CSeries is moving closer to obtaining the safety-of-flight permit following the successful completion of a critical series of structural and system tests.

Fly-by-wire system testing continues and to date, tests have shown results as expected, according to the manufacturer.

As for the assembly of the other flight test vehicles: systems installations are being completed on FTV2; the wings are being mated on FTV3; and the fuselage on FTV4 has entered into the assembly stage – all of which are advancing to schedule.