Bombardier’s CSeries program has received a significant boost with a firm order from Republic Airways Holdings for 40 CS300s and 40 options, worth over US$6.3bn (A$7.0bn) at list prices if all options are exercised.
Republic says a unified brand for its Midwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines operations, to be unveiled later this year, will fly the 138-seat CS300s.
Republic also owns a number of airlines that operate regional services for major US airlines under the AmericanConnection, Continental Express, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express brands, and becomes the first North American customer for the CSeries, which is planned to enter service in 2013.
With this order Bombardier’s new Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan powered narrowbody airliner program has now booked 90 firm orders (Lufthansa has ordered 30 CS100s, Lease Corporation International Group 17 CS300s and three CS100s), plus 90 options.
